CARBON:
Not a morsel left.

LE BRET:
Mordioux!

CARBON (making a sign that he should speak lower):
Curse under your breath. You will awake them.
(To the cadets):
Hush! Sleep on.
(To Le Bret):
He who sleeps, dines!

LE BRET:
But that is sorry comfort for the sleepless!. . .
What starvation!

(Firing is heard in the distance.)

CARBON:
Oh, plague take their firing! ’Twill wake my sons.
(To the cadets, who lift up their heads):
Sleep on!

(Firing is again heard, nearer this time.)

A CADET (moving):
The devil!. . .Again.

CARBON:
’Tis nothing! ’Tis Cyrano coming back!

(Those who have lifted up their heads prepare to sleep again.)