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CYRANO DE BERGERAC
275

A Sister

[coming to the steps].

Monsieur de Bergerac.

SCENE V

Roxane

[without turning round].

What was I saying?…

[She embroiders. Cyrano, very pale, his hat pulled down over his eyes, appears. The Sister who had announced him retires. He descends the steps slowly, with a visible difficulty in holding himself upright, bearing heavily on his cane. Roxane still works at her tapestry.]
Time has dimmed the tints…

How harmonise them now?

[To Cyrano, with playful reproach.]

For the first time

Late!—For the first time, all these fourteen years!

Cyrano

[who has succeeded in reaching the chair, and has seated himself in a lively voice, which is in great contrast with his pale face].

Ay! It is villainous! I raged—was stayed…

Roxane.

By?…