Cyrano De Bergerac Part 18

DE GUICHE The trick was successful, however! [As before, expectation suspends gambling and smoking.] [As before, expectation suspends gambling and smoking.]

CYRANO Very likely. But one should not resign the honor of being a target. [Cards, dice, smoke, fall, rattle, and upwreathe, as before, in expression of increasing glee.] [Cards, dice, smoke, fall, rattle, and upwreathe, as before, in expression of increasing glee.] Had I been at hand when you allowed your scarf to drop-the quality of our courage, monsieur, shows different in this,-I would have picked it up and worn it.... Had I been at hand when you allowed your scarf to drop-the quality of our courage, monsieur, shows different in this,-I would have picked it up and worn it....

DE GUICHE Ah, yes,-more of your Gascon bragging! ...

CYRANO Bragging? ... Lend me the scarf. I engage to mount, ahead of all, to the a.s.sault, wearing it crosswise upon my breast!

DE GUICHE A Gascon's offer, that too! You know that the scarf was left in the enemy's camp, by the banks of the Scarpe, where bullets since then have hailed... whence no one can bring it back!

CYRANO [taking a white scarf from his pocket and handing it to [taking a white scarf from his pocket and handing it to DE GUICHE] Here it is. DE GUICHE] Here it is. [Silence. The CADETS smother their laughter behind cards and in dice-boxes. DE GUICHE turns around, looks at them; instantly they become grave; one of them, with an air if unconcern, whistles the tune played earlier by the fifer] [Silence. The CADETS smother their laughter behind cards and in dice-boxes. DE GUICHE turns around, looks at them; instantly they become grave; one of them, with an air if unconcern, whistles the tune played earlier by the fifer]

DE GUICHE [taking the scarf [taking the scarf] I thank you. I shall be able with this shred of white to make a signal... which I was hesitating to make ... [He goes to the top of the bank and waves the scarf.] [He goes to the top of the bank and waves the scarf.]

ALL What now? ... What is this?

THE SENTINEL [at the top of the bank] A man ... over there ... running off ...

DE GUICHE [coming forward again [coming forward again] It is a supposed Spanish spy. He is very useful to us. The information he carries to the enemy is that which I give him,-so that their decisions are influenced by us.

CYRANO He is a scoundrel!

DE GUICHE [coolly tying on his scarf] He is a convenience. We were saying? ... Ah, I was about to tell you. Last night, having resolved upon a desperate stroke to obtain supplies, the Marshal secretly set out for Dourlens. The royal sutlers61 are encamped there. He expects to join them by way of the tilled fields; but, to provide against interference, he took with him troops in such number that, certainly, if we were now attacked, the enemy would find easy work. Half of the army is absent from the camp. are encamped there. He expects to join them by way of the tilled fields; but, to provide against interference, he took with him troops in such number that, certainly, if we were now attacked, the enemy would find easy work. Half of the army is absent from the camp.

CARBON If the Spaniards knew that, it might be serious. But they do not know.

DE GUICHE They do. And are going to attack us.

CARBON Ah!

DE GUICHE My pretended spy came to warn me of their intention. He said, moreover: I can direct the attack. At what point shall it be? I will lead them to suppose it the least strong, and they will centre their efforts against it. I answered: Very well. Go from the camp. Look down the line. Let them attack at the point I signal from.

CARBON [to the [to the CADETS] Gentlemen, get ready! CADETS] Gentlemen, get ready! [All get up. Noise of swords and belts being buckled on. [All get up. Noise of swords and belts being buckled on.]

DE GUICHE They will be here in an hour.

FIRST CADET Oh! ... if there is a whole hour! ... [All sit down again, and go on with their games.] [All sit down again, and go on with their games.]

DE GUICHE [to CARBON] [to CARBON] The main object is to gain time. The Marshal is on his way back. The main object is to gain time. The Marshal is on his way back.

CARBON And to gain time?

DE GUICHE You will be so obliging as to keep them busy killing you.

CYRANO Ah, this is your revenge!

DE GUICHE I will not pretend that if I had been fond of you, I would have thus singled out you and yours; but, as your bravery is unquestionably beyond that of others, I am serving my King at the same time as my inclination.

CYRANO Suffer me, monsieur, to express my grat.i.tude.

DE GUICHE I know that you affect fighting one against a hundred. You will not complain of lacking opportunity. [He goes toward the back with [He goes toward the back with CARBON.] CARBON.]

CYRANO [to the [to the CADETS] We shall now be able, gentlemen, to add to the Gascon escutcheon, which bears, as it is, six chevrons, or CADETS] We shall now be able, gentlemen, to add to the Gascon escutcheon, which bears, as it is, six chevrons, or62 and azure, the chevron that was wanting to complete it,-blood-red! and azure, the chevron that was wanting to complete it,-blood-red! [DE GUICHE at the back speaks low with CARBON. Orders are given. All is made ready to repel an attack. CYRANO goes toward CHRISTIAN, who stands motionless, with folded arms.] [DE GUICHE at the back speaks low with CARBON. Orders are given. All is made ready to repel an attack. CYRANO goes toward CHRISTIAN, who stands motionless, with folded arms.]

CYRANO [laying his hand on CHRISTIAN's shoulder] [laying his hand on CHRISTIAN's shoulder] Christian? Christian?

CHRISTIAN [shaking his head] Roxane! Roxane!

CYRANO Ah me!

CHRISTIAN I wish I might at least put my whole heart's last blessing in a beautiful letter!

CYRANO I mistrusted that it would come to-day ... [he takes a letter from his doublet] a letter from his doublet] and I have written your farewells. and I have written your farewells.

CHRISTIAN Let me see!

CYRANO You wish to see it? ...

CHRISTIAN [taking the letter] Yes! Yes! [He opens the letter, begins to read, stops short.] [He opens the letter, begins to read, stops short.] Ah? ... Ah? ...

CYRANO What?

CHRISTIAN That little round blister?

CYRANO [hurriedly taking back the letter, and looking at it with an artless air] A blister?

CHRISTIAN It is a tear!

CYRANO It looks like one, does it not? ... A poet, you see, is sometimes caught in his own snare,-that is what const.i.tutes the interest, the charm! ... This letter, you must know, is very touching. In writing it I apparently made myself shed tears.

CHRISTIAN Shed tears? ...

CYRANO Yes, because ... well, to die is not terrible at all ... but never to see her again, ... never! ... that, you know, is horrible beyond all thinking.... And, things having taken the turn they have, I shall not see her ... [CHRISTIAN looks at him] looks at him] we shall not see her ... we shall not see her ... [Hastily] [Hastily] you will not see her. . . . you will not see her. . . .

CHRISTIAN [s.n.a.t.c.hing the letter from him] [s.n.a.t.c.hing the letter from him] Give me the letter! Give me the letter! [Noise in the distance.] [Noise in the distance.]

VOICE OF A SENTINEL Ventrebieu, Ventrebieu, who goes there? who goes there? [Shots. Noise of voices, tinkling of bells.] [Shots. Noise of voices, tinkling of bells.]

CARBON What is it?

THE SENTINEL [on the top of the bank] [on the top of the bank] A coach! A coach! [All run to see.] [Noisy exclamations.] What? [All run to see.] [Noisy exclamations.] What?-In the camp?-It is driving into the camp!-It comes from the direction of the enemy! The devil! Fire upon it!-No! the coachman is shouting something!-What does he say?-He shouts: Service of the King!

DE GUICHE What? Service of the King? [All come down from the bank and fall into order.] [All come down from the bank and fall into order.]

CARBON Hats off, all!

DE GUICHE [at the corner] Service of the King! Stand back, low rabble, and give it room to turn around with a handsome sweep! Service of the King! Stand back, low rabble, and give it room to turn around with a handsome sweep! [The coach comes in at a trot. It is covered with mud and dust. The curtains are drawn. Two lackeys behind. It comes to a standstill.] [The coach comes in at a trot. It is covered with mud and dust. The curtains are drawn. Two lackeys behind. It comes to a standstill.]

CARBON [shouting] [shouting] Salute! Salute! [Drums roll. All the CADETS uncover.] [Drums roll. All the CADETS uncover.]

DE GUICHE Let down the steps! [Two men hurry forward. The coach door opens.] [Two men hurry forward. The coach door opens.]

ROXANE [stepping from the carriage] Good-morning! Good-morning! [At the sound of a feminine voice, all the men, in the act of bowing low, straighten themselves. Consternation.] [At the sound of a feminine voice, all the men, in the act of bowing low, straighten themselves. Consternation.]

SCENE V.

The Same, Roxane

DE GUICHE Service of the King! You?

ROXANE Of the only King! ... of Love!

CYRANO Ah, great G.o.d!

CHRISTIAN [rus.h.i.+ng to her] You! Why are you here? You! Why are you here?

ROXANE This siege lasted too long!

CHRISTIAN Why have you come?

ROXANE I will tell you!

CYRANO [who at the sound of her voice has started, then stood motionless without venturing to look her way] [who at the sound of her voice has started, then stood motionless without venturing to look her way] G.o.d! ... can I trust myself to look at her? G.o.d! ... can I trust myself to look at her?

DE GUICHE You cannot remain here.

ROXANE But I can,-I can, indeed! Will you favor me with a drum? [She seats herself upon a drum brought forward for her.] [She seats herself upon a drum brought forward for her.] There! I thank you! There! I thank you! [She laughs.] [She laughs.] They fired upon my carriage. They fired upon my carriage. [Proudly.] [Proudly.] A patrol! It does look rather as if it were made out of a pumpkin, does it not? like Cinderella's coach! and the footmen made out of rats! A patrol! It does look rather as if it were made out of a pumpkin, does it not? like Cinderella's coach! and the footmen made out of rats! [Blowing a kiss to [Blowing a kiss to CHRISTIAN.] How do you do? CHRISTIAN.] How do you do? [Looking at [Looking at them them all all.] You do not look overjoyed! ... Arras is a long way from Paris, do you know it? [Catching sight of CYRANO.] Cousin, delighted!

CYRANO [coming toward her] [coming toward her] But how did you ... ? But how did you ... ?

ROXANE How did I find the army? Dear me, cousin, that was simple: I followed straight along the line of devastation.... Ah, I should never have believed in such horrors had I not seen them! Gentlemen, if that is the service of your King, I like mine better!

CYRANO But this is mad! ... By what way did you come?

ROXANE Way? ... I drove through the Spaniards' camp.

FIRST CADET Ah, what will keep lovely woman from her way!

DE GUICHE But how did you contrive to get through their lines?

LE BRET That must have been difficult ...

ROXANE No, not very. I simply drove through them, in my coach, at a trot. If a hidalgo,63 with arrogant front, showed likely to stop us, I put my face at the window, wearing my sweetest smile, and, those gentlemen being,-let the French not grudge my saying so!-the most gallant in the world, ... I pa.s.sed! with arrogant front, showed likely to stop us, I put my face at the window, wearing my sweetest smile, and, those gentlemen being,-let the French not grudge my saying so!-the most gallant in the world, ... I pa.s.sed!

CARBON Such a smile is a pa.s.sport, certainly! ... But you must have been not unfrequently bidden to stand and deliver where you were going?

ROXANE Not unfrequently, you are right. Whereupon I would say, "I am going to see my lover!" At once, the fiercest looking Spaniard of them all would gravely close my carriage door; and, with a gesture the King might emulate, motion aside the musket-barrels levelled at me; and, superb at once for grace and haughtiness, bringing his spurs together, and lifting his plumed hat, bow low and say, "Pa.s.s, senorita, pa.s.s!"

CHRISTIAN But, Roxane ...

ROXANE I said, "My lover!" yes, forgive me!-You see, if I had said, "My husband!" they would never have let me by!

CHRISTIAN But ...

ROXANE What troubles you?

DE GUICHE You must leave at once.

ROXANE I?.

CYRANO At once!

LE BRET As fast as you can.

CHRISTIAN Yes, you must.

ROXANE But why?

CHRISTIAN [embarra.s.sed] [embarra.s.sed] Because ... Because ...

CYRANO [embarra.s.sed too] In three quarters of an hour ... too] In three quarters of an hour ...

DE GUICHE [the same] Or an hour ...

CARBON [the same] [the same] You had much better ... You had much better ...

LE BRET [the same] [the same] You might ... You might ...

ROXANE I shall remain. You are going to fight.

ALL Oh, no! ... No!

ROXANE He is my husband! [She throws herself in CHRISTIAN's CHRISTIAN's arms arms.] Let me be killed with you!

CHRISTIAN How your eyes s.h.i.+ne!

ROXANE I will tell you why they s.h.i.+ne!

DE GUICHE [desperately] [desperately] It is a post of horrible probabilities! It is a post of horrible probabilities!

ROXANE [turning toward him [turning toward him] What-of horrible? ...

CYRANO In proof of which he appointed us to it! ...

ROXANE Ah, you wish me made a widow?