Paul. What must I do, mademoiselle, to hear her voice?
Blanche [seeing in this too good an opportunity for selling a flower]. Will you not buy a flower for the Maid? They come from far away, from the South where there is always sun, and so they are not cheap. But, for a franc, you may have one lily of Lorraine to put upon the statue of the Maid.
Paul. A lily of Lorraine!
Blanche [showing a flower, then taking it back tantalizingly]. See, monsieur! How could she refuse to speak to you if you gave her that?
Paul. It is the way to make her speak! [Puts out hand for the flower and then draws back. ] But a franc! And I have nothing but one sou.
Blanche. One sou! When flowers are so dear, and have to come so far! Mon dieu, monsieur, but you have had a thirsty day if a sou is all that you have left from the wineshops.
Paul. I did not spend it there, mademoiselle. I gave it to the church, this church where is the statue of our Maid.
Blanche [only half scoffing]. Monsieur is devout.
Paul. Not always, mademoiselle. But I was born at Domremy where she was born and I have always adored our sainted Maid who died for France. Perhaps because of that, perhaps without the flower, Jeanne will speak to me at midnight when they say the statues come to life.
Blanche [touched]. Monsieur, I do not know. Perhaps she will. But see, here is a lily of Lorraine which I give you for the Maid. Put it upon her statue and perhaps it will awaken her to speech.