ong
And rap me. . .'

CHRISTIAN:
Over the nose. . .

CYRANO (wiping his forehead):
. . .'O' th' knuckles! Ay,'
But I cried, 'Forward, Gascon! Duty calls!
On, Cyrano!' And thus I ventured on. . .
When, from the shadow, came. . .

CHRISTIAN:
A crack o' th' nose.

CYRANO:
I parry it--find myself. . .

CHRISTIAN:
Nose to nose. . .

CYRANO (bounding on to him):
Heaven and earth!
(All the Gascons leap up to see, but when he is close to Christian he controls
himself and continues):
. . .With a hundred brawling sots,
Who stank. . .

CHRISTIAN:
A noseful. . .

CYRANO (white, but smiling):
Onions, brandy-cups!
I leapt out, head well down. . .

CHRISTIAN:
Nosing the wind!

CYRANO:
I charge!--gore two, impale one--run him through,
One aims at me--Paf! and I parry. . .

CHRISTIAN:
Pif!

CYRANO (bursting out):
Great God! Out! all of you!

(The cadets rush to the doors.)

FIRST CADET:
The tiger wakes!

CYRANO:
Every man, out! Leave me alone with him!

SECOND CADET:
We shall find him minced fine, minced into hash
In a big pasty!

RAGUENEAU:
I am turning pale,
And curl up, like a napkin, limp and white!

CARBON:
Let us be gone.

ANOTHER:
He will not leave a crumb!

ANOTHER:
I die of fright to think what will pass here!

ANOTHER (shutting door right):
Something too horrible!

(All have gone out by different doors, some by the staircase. Cyrano and
Christian are face to face, looking at each other for a moment.)

Scene 2.X.

Cyrano, Christian.

CYRANO:
Embrace me now!

CHRISTIAN:
Sir. . .

CYRANO:
You are brave.

CHRISTIAN:
Oh! but. . .

CYRANO:
Nay, I insist.

CHRISTIAN:
Pray tell me. . .

CYRANO:
Come, embrace! I am her brother.

CHRISTIAN:
Whose brother?

CYRANO:
Hers i' faith! Roxane's!

CHRISTIAN (rushing up to him):
O heavens!
Her brother. . .?

CYRANO:
Cousin--brother!. . .the same thing!

CHRISTIAN:
And she has told you. . .?

CYRANO:
All!

CHRISTIAN:
She loves me? say!

CYRANO:
Maybe!

CHRISTIAN (taking his hands):
How glad I am to meet you, Sir!

CYRANO:
That may be called a sudden sentiment!

CHRISTIAN:
I ask your pardon. . .

CYRANO (looking at him, with his hand on his shoulder):
True, he's fair, the villain!

CHRISTIAN:
Ah, Sir! If you but knew my admiration!. . .

CYRANO:
But all those noses?. . .

CH