Hurrying to Cyrano's tent Christian called his name. De Bergerac emerged fully armed. "Why are you so pale, my friend?" he asked upon seeing Christian.

"She loves me no more," cried the latter in a heart-broken voice.

"But how is this? What has occurred?"

"'Tis you she loves; you and no one else. She said but now she loved me my soul."

only for

"Ah, said she so?"

“And that soul is yours-the one in all those letters. Therefore 'tis you she loves. And you love her!"

"True, I love her madly! Ay, and

more.

"Then tell her before the attack begins."

"Nay, that I cannot do,"

“And why, pray, can you not?"

"But glance once at my face and read your answer there."

"She said she e'en would love me were

I ugly."

"How?

She said that?"

"She said those very words."

"Marry, believe it not. An' grew you ugly she would hold me to account for not taking better care of you.

"Nay, she shall choose between us even now."

"But I will not have it thus. You rend my heart."

"Because I chance to have a face that's fair, shall I assassinate your happiness?"

"And if I have the power, by some mad freak of nature to express my feelings better than most, shall I plunge you from heaven into deep despair?"

"You must tell her everything." "You know not what you do to tempt me thus."

"For far too long I have been bearing a rival within myself. I can do it no more."

"But take time to consider this, I pray."

"Our secret marriage without witnesses can be dissolved with ease in case we both survive the coming conflict." "Ah, why do you still persist?"

"If she loves me not for my own self, but for your poetic spirit, I will not be loved at all. Come, make an end of this! I will now go to the rampart's end, where I am to be stationed and see what preparations for defence they've made. I pray you, Roxane, come here a moment.

Leaving the cadets, Roxane came up

smiling. "Cyrano, here has something of importance to say in your ear."

Roxane hastened to Cyrano's side, and Christian, seeing that he was unobserved, sprang up the rampart, drawing his sword as he went.

CHAPTER XVII.

"WHAT is this secret, cousin?" asked Roxane.

"Tis but a trifle," replied Cyrano. "You know he magnifies many small things into great ones."

"Ah, did he not believe all that I said to him? I fear he doubted."

"But were you sincere in all you said?" "Why, I would love him still were he-"

"Nay, do not hesitate. Let not that word embarrass you, Roxane. My face need be no obstacle to its utterance: it will not wound my feelings in the least. You mean if he were ugly."