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sun。
CYRANO （hurriedly）： Let us not seem to suffer either！ Out with
your cards； pipes； and dice。 。 。 （All begin spreading out the games on the
drums； the stools； the ground； and on their cloaks； and light long pipes）：
And I shall read Descartes。
（He walks up and down； reading a little book which he has drawn from
his pocket。 Tableau。 Enter De Guiche。 All appear absorbed and
happy。 He is very pale。 He goes up to Carbon。）
SCENE 4。IV。
The same。 De Guiche。
DE GUICHE （to Carbon）： Good…day！ （They examine each other。
Aside； with satisfaction）： He's green。
CARBON （aside）： He has nothing left but eyes。
DE GUICHE （looking at the cadets）： Here are the rebels！ Ay； Sirs；
on all sides I hear that in your ranks you scoff at me； That the
Cadets； these loutish； mountain…bred； Poor country squires； and barons
of Perigord； Scarce find for metheir Colonela disdain Sufficient！
call me plotter； wily courtier！ It does not please their mightiness to see
A point…lace collar on my steel cuirass； And they enrage； because a
man； in sooth； May be no ragged…robin； yet a Gascon！ （Silence。 All
smoke and play）： Shall I command your Captain punish you？ No。
CARBON： I am free； moreover；will not punish
DE GUICHE： Ah！
CARBON： I have paid my company'tis mine。 I bow but to
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headquarters。
DE GUICHE： So？in faith！ That will suffice。 （Addressing
himself to the cadets）： I can despise your taunts 'Tis well known
how I bear me in the war； At Bapaume； yesterday； they saw the rage
With which I beat back the Count of Bucquoi； Assembling my own
men； I fell on his； And charged three separate times！
CYRANO （without lifting his eyes from his book）： And your white
scarf？
DE GUICHE （surprised and gratified）： You know that
detail？。 。 。Troth！ It happened thus： While caracoling to recall the
troops For the third charge； a band of fugitives Bore me with them；
close by the hostile ranks： I was in perilcapture； sudden death！
When I thought of the good expedient To loosen and let fall the scarf
which told My military rank； thus I contrived Without attention
wakedto leave the foes； And suddenly returning； reinforced With
my own men； to scatter them！ And now； What say you； Sir？
（The cadets pretend not to be listening； but the cards and the dice…
boxes remain suspended in their hands； the smoke of their pipes in their
cheeks。 They wait。）
CYRANO： I say； that Henri Quatre Had not； by any dangerous
odds； been forced To strip himself of his white helmet plume。
（Silent delight。 The cards fall； the dice rattle。 The smoke is puffed。）
DE GUICHE： The ruse succeeded； though！
（Same suspension of play； etc。）
CYRANO： Oh； may be！ But One does not lightly abdicate the
honor To serve as target to the enemy （Cards； dice； fall again； and the
cadets smoke with evident delight）： Had I been present when your scarf
fell low； Our courage； Sir； is of a different sort I would have
picked it up and put it on。
DE GUICHE： Oh； ay！ Another Gascon boast！
CYRANO： A boast？ Lend it to me。 I pledge myself； to…night；
With it across my breast；to lead th' assault。
DE GUICHE： Another Gascon vaunt！ You know the scarf Lies
with the enemy； upon the brink Of the stream；。 。 。the place is riddled
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
now with shot； No one can fetch it hither！
CYRANO （drawing the scarf from his pocket； and holding it out to
him）： Here it is。
（Silence。 The cadets stifle their laughter in their cards and dice…boxes。
De Guiche turns and looks at them； they instantly become grave； and set to
play。 One of them whistles indifferently the air just played by the fifer。）
DE GUICHE （taking the scarf）： I thank you。 It will now enable
me To make a signal；that I had forborne To maketill now。
（He goes to the rampart； climbs it； and waves the scarf thrice。）
ALL： What's that？
THE SENTINEL （from the top of the rampart）： See you yon man
Down there； who runs？。 。 。
DE GUICHE （descending）： 'Tis a false Spanish spy Who is
extremely useful to my ends。 The news he carries to the enemy Are
those I prompt him withso； in a word； We have an influence on their
decisions！
CYRANO： Scoundrel！
DE GUICHE （carelessly knotting on his scarf）： 'Tis opportune。
What were we saying？ Ah！ I have news for you。 Last evening To
victual usthe Marshal did attempt A final effort：secretly he went
To Dourlens； where the King's provisions be。 Butto return to camp
more easily He took with him a goodly force of troops。 Those who
attacked us now would have fine sport！ Half of the army's absent from
the camp！
CARBON： Ay； if the Spaniards knew； 'twere ill for us； But they
know nothing of it？
DE GUICHE： Oh！ they know。 They will attack us。
CARBON： Ah！
DE GUICHE： For my false spy Came to warn me of their attack。
He said； 'I can decide the point for their assault； Where would you
have it？ I will tell them 'tis The least defendedthey'll attempt you
there。' I answered； 'Good。 Go out of camp； but watch My signal。
Choose the point from whence it comes。'
CARBON （to cadets）： Make ready！
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
（All rise； sounds of swords and belts being buckled。）
DE GUICHE： 'Twill be in an hour。
FIRST CADET： Good！。 。 。
（They all sit down again and take up their games。）
DE GUICHE （to Carbon）： Time must be gained。 The Marshal
will return。
CARBON： How gain it？
DE GUICHE： You will all be good enough To let yourselves to
be killed。
CYRANO： Vengeance！ oho！
DE GUICHE： I do not say that； if I loved you well； I had chosen
you and yours；but； as things stand； Your courage yielding to no
corps the palm I serve my King； and serve my grudge as well。
CYRANO： Permit that I express my gratitude。 。 。
DE GUICHE： I know you love to fight against five score； You
will not now complain of paltry odds。
（He goes up with Carbon。）
CYRANO （to the cadets）： We shall add to the Gascon coat of arms；
With its six bars of blue and gold； one more The blood…red bar that
was a…missing there！
（De Guiche speaks in a low voice with Carbon at the back。 Orders
are given。 Preparations go forward。 Cyrano goes up to Christian； who
stands with crossed arms。）
CYRANO （putting his hand on Christian's shoulder）： Christian！
CHRISTIAN （shaking his head）： Roxane！
CYRANO： Alas！
CHRISTIAN： At least； I'd send My heart's farewell to her in a
fair letter！。 。 。
CYRANO： I had suspicion it would be to…day； （He draws a letter
out of his doublet）： And had already writ。 。 。
CHRISTIAN： Show！
CYRANO： Will you。 。 。？
CHRISTIAN （taking the letter）： Ay！ （He opens and reads it）：
Hold！
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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
CYRANO： What？
CHRISTIAN： This little spot！
CYRANO （taking the letter； with an innocent look）： A spot？
CHRISTIAN： A tear！