ck!
How strange
To be behind his time, at last, to-day!
Perhaps the portress--where's my thimble?. . .
Here!--Is preaching to him.
(A pause):
Yes, she must be preaching!
Surely he must come soon!--Ah, a dead leaf!--
(She brushes off the leaf from her work):
Nothing, besides, could--scissors?--In my bag!
--Could hinder him. . .

A SISTER (coming to the steps):
Monsieur de Bergerac.

Scene 5.V.

Roxane, Cyrano and, for a moment, Sister Martha.

ROXANE (without turning round):
What was I saying?. . .
(She embroiders. Cyrano, very pale, his hat pulled down over his eyes,
appears. The sister who had announced him retires. He descends the steps
slowly, with a visible difficulty in holding himself upright, bearing heavily
on his cane. Roxane still works at her tapestry):
Time has dimmed the tints. . .
How harmonize them now?
(To Cyrano, with playful reproach):
For the first time
Late!--For the first time, all these fourteen years!

CYRANO (who has succeeded in reaching the chair, and has seated himself--in a
lively voice, which is in great contrast with his pale face):
Ay! It is villainous! I raged--was stayed. . .

ROXANE:
By?. . .

CYRANO:
By a bold, unwelcome visitor.

ROXANE (absently, working):
Some creditor?

CYRANO:
Ay, cousin,--the last creditor
Who has a debt to claim from me.

ROXANE:
And you
Have paid it?

CYRANO:
No, not yet! I put it off;
--Said, 'Cry you mercy; this is Saturday,
When I have get a standing rendezvous
That naught defers. Call in an hour's time!'

ROXANE (carelessly):
Oh, well, a creditor can always wait!
I shall not let you go ere twilight falls.

CYRANO:
Haply, perforce, I quit you ere it falls!

(He shuts his eyes, and is silent for a moment. Sister Martha crosses the
park from the chapel to the flight of steps. Roxane, seeing her, signs to her
to approach.)

ROXANE (to Cyrano):
How now? You have not teased the Sister?

CYRANO (hastily opening his eyes):
True!
(In a comically loud voice):
Sister! come here!
(The sister glides up to him):
Ha! ha! What? Those bright eyes
Bent ever on the ground?

SISTER MARTHA (who makes a movement of astonishment on seeing his face):
Oh!

CYRANO (in a whisper, pointing to Roxane):
Hush! 'tis naught!--
(Loudly, in a blustering voice):
I broke fast yesterday!

SISTER MARTHA (aside):
I know, I know!
That's how he is so pa