sent 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, twirls his mustache, and throws back his shoulders):
Wait!. . .You shall see!

DE GUICHE (to whom Cuigy has spoken in a low voice):
In feats of arms, already your career
Abounded.--You serve with those crazy pates
Of Gascons?

CYRANO:
Ay, with the Cadets.

A CADET (in a terrible voice):
With us!

DE GUICHE (looking at the cadets, ranged behind Cyrano):
Ah!. . .All these gentlemen of haughty mien,
Are they the famous?. . .

CARBON:
Cyrano!

CYRANO:
Ay, Captain!

CARBON:
Since all my company's assembled here,
Pray favor me,--present them to my lord!

CYRANO (making two steps toward De Guiche):
My Lord de Guiche, permit that I present--
(pointing to the cadets):
The bold Cadets of Gascony,
Of Carbon of Castel-Jaloux!
Brawling and swaggering boastfully,
The bold Cadets of Gascony!
Spouting of Armory, Heraldry,
Their veins a-b