The same, with DE GUICHE.

[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.]

[There is silent delight among the cadets. The cards fall, the dice rattle, the smoke is puffed.]

[The CADETS again suspend their movements and wait.]

[There is silence. The cadets stifle their laughter in their cards and dice-boxes. DE GUICHE turns and looks at them. They instantly become serious and return to their games. One of them whistles indifferently the tune that was just played by the fifer.]

[He goes to the embankment and waves the scarf three times.]

[All the CADETS rise. There are sounds of swords being picked up and belts being buckled.]

[They all sit down again and take up their games.]

[He goes up with CARBON.]

[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.]

[A distant rumbling is heard far off in the camp.]

[Shots and voices and carriage bell are heard.]

[Everyone rushes to see.]

[Everyone is on the embankment, staring. The bells come nearer.]

[Everyone comes down and falls into line.]

[The carriage enters at full speed covered with dust and mud. The curtains are drawn closed. Two LACKEYS follow behind. The carriage stops suddenly.]

[A roll of drums sounds. The CADETS take off their hats.]

[All are bowing to the ground, but at the sound of a woman's voice every head is instantly raised.]

DE GUICHE:

[to CARBON] Good day! [They examine each other. De Guiche speaks in an aside, with satisfaction.] He's quite green!

CARBON:

[looking at DE GUICHE with the same sort of satisfaction and also speaking in an aside] His cheeks are sunken and his eyes are as big as saucers!

DE GUICHE:

[looking at the CADETS] So! Here are the rebels! I've been hearing from all sides that you country louts scoff at me—your colonel! It seems that you mountain-bred aristocrats harbor a disdain for me, calling me a plotter and a scheming courtier! I hear that it doesn't please your mightiness to see a lace collar on my armor! You're all simply enraged by the fact that a man can be still be a Gascon without looking like a ragged beggar! [There is silence. Everyone continues to smoke and to play.] Shall I command your captain to punish you? No.

CARBON:

Let me remind you that these are my men, and I would refuse to punish them.

DE GUICHE:

Ah!

CARBON:

These men are of my company. I take orders only from headquarters.

DE GUICHE:

Is that so? Fine, then. [addressing himself to the cadets] I am above your taunts, because it's well known how I've shown myself in this war. Just yesterday, at Bapaume, I beat back the Count of Bucquoi. I assembled my men and we charged on him three separate times!

CYRANO:

[without lifting his eyes from his book] Yes, and don't forget the part about your white scarf.

DE GUICHE:

[surprised and gratified] Oh, you've heard that detail? It's true! I'll tell you how it happened. While turning about to recall the troops for the third charge, I was swept up with a band of fugitives. They bore me with them, and we came dangerously close to the enemy. I was in peril of capture or sudden death! I quickly had the idea to loosen the scarf which told my military rank and I let it fall. This way, I was unnoticed and was able to leave the swarm. I went back, rallied my men, and we charged and scattered them! What do you say to that, Sir?

CYRANO:

I say that Henry the Fourth would never have stripped himself of his scarf, no matter the danger.

DE GUICHE:

But it was a good trick! And it worked!

CYRANO:

Oh, that may be true! But I don't believe in lightly abdicating the honor of being the enemy's target. [Cards and dice fall again, and the cadets smoke with delight.] We have very different ideas of what courage is, Sir. If I had been there when your scarf fell, I would have picked it up and put it on myself.

DE GUICHE:

Oh, that's just Gascon bragging!

CYRANO:

Bragging? Give the scarf to me. I promise that tonight I will lead the assault while wearing it across my chest.

DE GUICHE:

Another Gascon boast! You know very well that my scarf now lies on the river bank in enemy territory. The place is riddled with gunfire! No one can bring it back!

CYRANO:

[drawing the scarf from his pocket, and holding it out to him] Here it is.

DE GUICHE:

[taking the scarf] I thank you. And now I shall make a signal that I was unable to make until now.

ALL:

What's he doing?

SENTINEL:

[from the top of the embankment] I see a man running away down there!

DE GUICHE:

[descending] He's a false Spanish spy. He's extremely useful to me. I give him false news to carry to the enemy, and such news influences their decisions!

CYRANO:

He's a traitor and a scoundrel!

DE GUICHE:

[carelessly knotting his scarf] But he's extremely helpful to us. Now, what were we talking about? Ah! I have news for you. Last night, the Marshal secretly left for Dourlens in order to bring back food and drink for us. But to ensure that he would be able to return to camp more easily, he took most of the troops with him. If we get attacked now, we'll be in serious trouble. Half of the army is absent from the camp!

CARBON:

Yes, if the Spaniards knew this, it would be terrible for us. But they know nothing?

DE GUICHE:

Oh, they know. And they will attack us.

CARBON:

Ah!

DE GUICHE:

My false spy came to warn me of their attack. He told me, “I can have them attack at whichever point you'd like them to, by telling them that it's the point which is least defended. Where do you want it to happen?” I answered, “Leave the camp and watch for my signal. I will sign to you from the point I have chosen.”

CARBON:

[to the CADETS] Make ready!

DE GUICHE:

It will happen in one hour.

FIRST CADET:

Oh, in that case…

DE GUICHE:

[to CARBON] The Marshal will be on his way back, so we must keep the enemy occupied here for as long as we can.

CARBON:

How do you propose we do that?

DE GUICHE:

By letting them continue their attack until every last one of your cadets are killed.

CYRANO:

Ah! So this is your revenge!

DE GUICHE:

I am not saying that if I loved you all, I would have chosen differently. As boastful and courageous as you are, you are my best choice. In this way, I serve both my King and my grudge at the same time.

CYRANO:

Permit me to express my gratitude.

DE GUICHE:

I know you love to fight against the odds. I hope you're not complaining now.

CYRANO:

[to the CADETS] We shall add to the Gascon coat of arms a new mark! Among its six bars of blue and gold, we'll add one more—a blood-red bar that was missing before!

CYRANO:

[putting his hand on CHRISTIAN'S shoulder] Christian?

CHRISTIAN:

[shaking his head] Roxane!

CYRANO:

Yes, I know.

CHRISTIAN:

If I could only, at the very least, say goodbye to her in a letter!

CYRANO:

I had a suspicion that today might be the day, so I already wrote— [He draws a letter out of his jacket.]

CHRISTIAN:
Show it to me!

CYRANO:

Shall I—

CHRISTIAN:

[taking the letter] Yes! [He opens it and reads.] Wait a minute!

CYRANO:

What?

CHRISTIAN:

This little spot!

CYRANO:

[taking the letter, with an innocent look] A spot?

CHRISTIAN:

It's a tear!

CYRANO:

Alas, poets are so good at inventing emotion that they sometimes get caught up in it themselves! This letter was so sad and moving that I wept myself while writing it!

CHRISTIAN:

You wept? But why?

CYRANO:

Oh, death itself is nothing. But to never see her again! That is something worse than death! To think that I shall never—[CHRISTIAN looks at him.] I mean, to think that we shall—[quickly] I mean, that you—

CHRISTIAN:

[snatching the letter from him] Give me that letter!

VOICE OF SENTINEL:

Who goes there?

CARBON:

What is it?

SENTINEL:

[on the embankment] ’Tis a carriage!

CRIES:

A carriage? In the camp? It's coming! The enemy! Fire on it! No! The coachman! What did he say? “On the King's service!”

DE GUICHE:

The King's service? How?

CARBON:

Hats off, everyone!

DE GUICHE:

The King's service! Get in line, all of you! Don't you know how to welcome a king?

CARBON:

Beat the salute!

ROXANE:

[jumping down from the carriage] Good day!