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Cyrano de Bergerac [19]

By Root 968 0
on seeing Cyrano.)

CARBON: Here he is!

CYRANO (raising his head): Captain!. . .

CARBON (delightedly): Our hero! We heard all! Thirty or more Of my cadets are there!. . .

CYRANO (shrinking back): But. . .

CARBON (trying to draw him away): Come with me! They will not rest until they see you!

CYRANO: No!

CARBON: They're drinking opposite, at The Bear's Head.

CYRANO: I. . .

CARBON (going to the door and calling across the street in a voice of thunder): He won't come! The hero's in the sulks!

A VOICE (outside): Ah! Sandious!

(Tumult outside. Noise of boots and swords is heard approaching.)

CARBON (rubbing his hands): They are running 'cross the street!

CADETS (entering): Mille dious! Capdedious! Pocapdedious!

RAGUENEAU (drawing back startled): Gentlemen, are you all from Gascony?

THE CADETS: All!

A CADET (to Cyrano): Bravo!

CYRANO: Baron!

ANOTHER (shaking his hands): Vivat!

CYRANO: Baron!

THIRD CADET: Come! I must embrace you!

CYRANO: Baron!

SEVERAL GASCONS: We'll embrace Him, all in turn!

CYRANO (not knowing whom to reply to): Baron!. . .Baron!. . .I beg. . .

RAGUENEAU: Are you all Barons, Sirs?

THE CADETS: Ay, every one!

RAGUENEAU: Is it true?. . .

FIRST CADET: Ay--why, you could build a tower With nothing but our coronets, my friend!

LE BRET (entering, and running up to Cyrano): They're looking for you! Here's a crazy mob Led by the men who followed you last night. . .

CYRANO (alarmed): What! Have you told them where to find me?

LE BRET (rubbing his hands): Yes!

A BURGHER (entering, followed by a group of men): Sir, all the Marais is a-coming here!

(Outside the street has filled with people. Chaises a porteurs and carriages have drawn up.)

LE BRET (in a low voice, smiling, to Cyrano): And Roxane?

CYRANO (quickly): Hush!

THE CROWD (calling outside): Cyrano!. . .

(A crowd rush into the shop, pushing one another. Acclamations.)

RAGUENEAU (standing on a table): Lo! my shop Invaded! They break all! Magnificent!

PEOPLE (crowding round Cyrano): My friend!. . .my friend. . .

Cyrano: Meseems that yesterday I had not all these friends!

LE BRET (delighted): Success!

A YOUNG MARQUIS (hurrying up with his hands held out): My friend, Didst thou but know. . .

CYRANO: Thou!. . .Marry!. . .thou!. . .Pray when Did we herd swine together, you and I!

ANOTHER: I would present you, Sir, to some fair dames Who in my carriage yonder. . .

CYRANO (coldly): Ah! and who Will first present you, Sir, to me?

LE BRET (astonished): What's wrong?

CYRANO: Hush!

A MAN OF LETTERS (with writing-board): A few details?. . .

CYRANO: No.

LE BRET (nudging his elbow): 'Tis Theophrast, Renaudet,. . .of the 'Court Gazette'!

CYRANO: Who cares?

LE BRET: This paper--but it is of great importance!. . . They say it will be an immense success!

A POET (advancing): Sir. . .

CYRANO: What, another!

THE POET: . . .Pray permit I make A pentacrostic on your name. . .

SOME ONE (also advancing): Pray, Sir. . .

CYRANO: Enough! Enough!

(A movement in the crowd. De Guiche appears, escorted by officers. Cuigy, Brissaille, the officers who went with Cyrano the night before. Cuigy comes rapidly up to Cyrano.)

CUIGY (to Cyrano): Here is Monsieur de Guiche? (A murmur--every one makes way): He comes from the Marshal of Gassion!

DE GUICHE (bowing to Cyrano): . . .Who would express his admiration, Sir, For your new exploit noised so loud abroad.

THE CROWD: Bravo!

CYRANO (bowing): The Marshal is a judge of valor.

DE GUICHE: He could not have believed the thing, unless These gentlemen had sworn they witnessed it.

CUIGY: With our own eyes!

LE BRET (aside to Cyrano, who has an absent air): But. . .you. . .

CYRANO: Hush!

LE BRET: But. . .You suffer?

CYRANO (starting): Before this rabble?--I?. . . (He draws himself up,
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