THE DUENNA (_to Ragueneau, pointing to the door of the house over the way_). We are expected over there, at Clomire's. She holds her literary assizes. There will be a reading. Subject: The Tender Passion! RAGUENEAU. The Tender Passion, indeed! THE DUENNA (_smirking_). The Tender Passion. Why not? (_calling toward the window_). Roxane, come down! Or we shall miss the discourse on The Tender Passion. VOICE OF ROXANE. I am coming! (_Sound of string instruments growing gradually nearer._) VOICE OF CYRANO (_singing in the wings_). La, la, la, la! THE DUENNA (_surprised_). Music for us! CYRANO (_followed by two pages each with an archlute_). I say again that it's a demi-semi-quaver, you triple fool! FIRST PAGE (_with irony_). So then, Sir, you have thorough knowledge of quavers? CYRANO. I am a musician, as are all the disciples of Gassendi. THE PAGE (_playing and singing_). La, la! CYRANO (_snatching from him the archlute and continuing the music_). I can go on! La, la, la, la! ROXANE (_appearing on the balcony_). So, it is you? CYRANO (_continuing the same air_). Yes, I who come to celebrate the lily, And to extol the glory of the ro....se! ROXANE. I'll be down in a moment. (_She leaves the balcony._) THE DUENNA (_to Cyrano, pointing to the two pages_). And who may be these two songsters? CYRANO. Oh! they are part of a bet I won. D'Assoucy and I had a discussion on a point of grammar. No! Yes! No! Yes! Of a sudden he points to these two scarecrows here, his constant escort, great in the art of scratching a string with a claw, and he says: "I'll bet you a whole day of music!"--He lost. And now, until to-morrow comes, I must enjoy both the strains and the presence of these two harmonious witnesses of all my acts!.... Pleasant, if you like, in the beginning, but now the pleasure is growing less. (_to the musicians_). Hep!.... Just go and play a pavan--with my compliments--for that actor Montfleury! (_Pages go up. To the Duenna_). I've come this evening--as on previous evenings-- (_to the Pages who are leaving_). Play long,--and out of tune! (_to Duenna_). To ask Roxane if the friend of her soul is still as faultless as before. ROXANE (_coming out of the house_). How beautiful, how clever he is! and how I love him! CYRANO (_smiling_). Indeed! And is Christian so very clever?.... ROXANE. Yes, dear friend, more so even than yourself! CYRANO.