Beneath the linden trees of the Place Royal there is some gossipping .... and information has reached me .... CYRANO. He is a cadet, you say? ROXANE. Yes, a cadet in the Guards. CYRANO. His name? ROXANE. Baron Christian de Neuvillette. CYRANO. How?.... There is nobody of that name among the cadets. ROXANE. Oh! yes, there is, since this morning. His Captain is Carbon of Haughty-Hall. CYRANO. And so, quick, quick, we throw away our little heart?.... But my poor child.... THE DUENNA (_looking in at the door_). Monsieur de Bergerac, I have finished the cakes! CYRANO. Well, then, read the verses that you will find on the bags! (_Duenna disappears._) .... My poor child, for you who are accustomed to refined language, to subtle thoughts,--suppose he were thoroughly uninitiated, in fact, a savage! ROXANE. Oh! no, he has the hair of a hero! CYRANO. Suppose he were as poor in speech as rich in hair. ROXANE. No, all his words are choice; I can tell by seeing him. CYRANO. Of course, all words are choice when they come through a mustache that is well curled.--But suppose he were a dunce!.... ROXANE (_striking the floor with her foot, impatiently_). Well, it would kill me! There! CYRANO (_after a pause_). And it is to tell me this that you asked me to meet you here? I fail to see the necessity of the appointment, Madam. ROXANE. The fact is that somebody frightened me yesterday by telling me that you are all Gascons in your Company.... CYRANO. And that we challenge any beardless hero who, through influence, and not being really a Gascon, manages to get assigned to our Gascon Company? That is what you were told. ROXANE. And you imagine how I tremble for him? CYRANO (_between his teeth_). Not without good reason! ROXANE. But then I was reminded of you, and of your skill and courage, your great achievements; and I thought: if he, Cyrano, whom everyone respects, would.... CYRANO. 'Tis well. I'll answer for your little baron. ROXANE. Yes, defend him always, please. And many thanks! You know how fond of you I've always been? CYRANO. Oh! yes, I know. ROXANE. You'll be his friend? CYRANO. I will. ROXANE. And he shall have no duels to fight.