(General stupor. Every one turns round. Murmurs.)

DIFFERENT VOICES:
Hey?—What?—What is’t?. . .

(The people stand up in the boxes to look.)

CUIGY:
’Tis he!

LE BRET (terrified):
Cyrano!

THE VOICE:
King of clowns! Leave the stage this instant!

ALL THE AUDIENCE (indignantly):
Oh!

MONTFLEURY:
But. . .

THE VOICE:
Do you dare defy me?

DIFFERENT VOICES (from the pit and the boxes):
Peace! Enough!—Play on, Montfleury—fear nothing!