Cyrano.
Silence!
The Pit
[wildly excited].
Silence! Hooooh! Quack! Cock-a-doodle-doo!
Cyrano.
I order
A Page.
I order—— Miow!
Cyrano.
I order—— Miow! I order silence, all!
And challenge the whole pit collectively!—
I write your names!—Approach, young heroes, here!
Each in his turn! I cry the numbers out!—
Now which of you will come to ope the lists?
You, Sir? No! You? No! The first duellist
Shall be despatched by me with honours due!
Let all who long for death hold up their hands!
[A silence.]
Modest? You fear to see my naked blade?
Not one name?—Not one hand?—Good, I proceed!
[Turning towards the stage, where Montfleury waits in an agony.]
The theatre's too full, congested,—I
Would clear it out… If not…
[Puts his hand on his sword.]
Would clear it out… If not… The knife must act!
Montfleury.
I…
