One who joined this morning. CYRANO (_going toward Christian_). This morning? CARBON. His name is Baron de Neuvillette. CYRANO (_rapidly, stopping_). Oh! very well then!.... (_He turns pale, then reddens, and appears ready to throw himself upon Christian._) I must.... (_restraining himself, however_). That is different. (_resuming_). As I was saying.... (_with ill-concealed fury_). Mordious!.... (_continuing in a natural tone_).... I could not see very far. (_General stupefaction. All take their seats again, looking at Cyrano._) So, I was walking on, thinking how I was going to disappoint some mighty lord desirous of pulling.... CHRISTIAN. Your nose!.... (_Everybody rises again, while Christian rocks on his chair._) CYRANO (_half choking_). My ears!.... and how imprudent some people might find me for thus poking.... CHRISTIAN. Your nose.... CYRANO. No, my finger, between the tree and the bark. For this great lord might be powerful enough to rap me.... CHRISTIAN. On the nose.... CYRANO (_wiping the perspiration from his forehead_). No, on the fingers. But I said to myself: go ahead, Gascon; do your duty! On, Cyrano! Then, abruptly, out of the dark, somebody made a lunge at me. I parried: when suddenly, I found myself.... CHRISTIAN. Nose to nose.... CYRANO (_bounding toward him_). Ventre--Saint--Gris!.... (_All the Gascons advance to witness the scene. But Cyrano, on coming up to Christian, masters himself, and continues:_) Confronted by a hundred drunken rascals.... smelling.... CHRISTIAN. With their hundred noses.... CYRANO (_pale as death, but smiling_). ....Strongly of onion and garlic! I rushed forward blindly.... CHRISTIAN. Without nosing.... CYRANO. And charged them! Down went two of them. A third I ran through. They lunged, I parried, and struck down, how many?.... CHRISTIAN. Who knows!.... CYRANO (_bursting with rage_). Thunder and lightning! Clear the room! (_The Cadets rush toward the door._) FIRST CADET. The tiger wakes! CYRANO. All out! Leave me alone with this man! SECOND CADET. We'll find the fellow in mince-meat. RAGUENEAU. Mince-meat. Not fit, though, for my pies. (_All go out, by the rear, the sides and the staircase. Cyrano and Christian remain face to face staring at each other fiercely._) _SCENE X._