One hundred men, you say? You'll sleep under your own roof. LIGNIÈRE (_terrified_). But how can I?.... CYRANO (_in fierce tones, showing him the lighted lantern held by the Janitor, who has been listening_). Take that lantern! (_Lignière seizes the lantern._) And walk on boldly. I swear to you that I to-night will make your bed for you. (_To the officers._) You, gentlemen, be good enough to follow .... at a distance. You'll be witnesses. CUIGY. Yes, but one hundred men!.... CYRANO. To-night I would not have them fewer by a single man! (_The comedians and comediennes, who have, in their costumes, come down from the stage into the pit, crowd around Cyrano._) LE BRET. But why protect this.... CYRANO. There's Le Bret grumbling again! LE BRET. This commonplace drunkard?.... CYRANO (_playfully striking Lignière on the shoulder_). Because this drunkard, this cask of Muscatel, this barrel of Rossoli, once did something exceedingly handsome: his lady-love, as she was leaving church, after mass, having properly dipped her dainty finger into the holy water near the door, he, though he has a horror for water, ran up to the stoup, leaned over it and drank it dry! COMEDIENNE (_in soubrette's dress_). A pretty deed, I think. CYRANO. Was it not, soubrette? COMEDIENNE (_to the others_). But why a hundred men against a poor poet? CYRANO. Let us on!.... (_to the officers_) .... and you, gentlemen, when you see me charge, please do not follow; simply look on, whatever danger I may be in! COMEDIENNE. But we wish to see too! CYRANO. Come along, then! COMEDIENNE (_to the troop_). Let us all go? CYRANO. Come, all of you, the Doctor, Isabella, Leander, all! Come as a bevy pleasant and frolicsome! Come, and let the fantasy of Italian farce tinkle through the rumble of to-night's Spanish drama, surrounding it with jingles like a tambourine! THE WOMEN (_jumping for joy_). Bravo! Quick, a wrap! a hood!.... JODELET. Let us proceed! CYRANO (_to the violins_). Will the violins supply the music? (_The violins join the formation. Candles are taken from the footlights and distributed; and thus a torch-light procession is prepared._) CYRANO.