John withdraws grumbling. Joan Darc, overwhelmed with terror, has fallen back upon the straw and represses her sobs. After the jailer's withdrawal she slightly regains courage, rises partly and the dialogue proceeds: JOAN DARC--"Pardon my weakness, Father. Oh, the mere thought of such a horrible death--the thought of mounting a pyre!" (She does not finish the sentence, and sobs violently.) CANON LOYSELEUR--"By placing before you the frightful fate reserved to you, in case you are snared, I wished to put you upon your guard against your enemies." JOAN DARC (wiping her tears, and in an accent of profound gratitude)--"God will reward you, good Father, for the great pity you show me, a stranger to you." CANON LOYSELEUR--"You are no stranger to me, Joan. I know you are one of the glories of France! The elect of the Lord! Now listen to the rest of what I have to say to you. I am in a hurry to complete my advice before I am dragged away from here. If, deceived by their perfidious suggestions, you should answer your judges that you believe you saw your saints appear before you, that you believe you heard their voices, instead of resolutely affirming that you saw them with your eyes and heard them with your ears, St. Catherine, St. Marguerite and the archangel St. Michael, sent to you by the Lord--" JOAN DARC--"It is the truth, Father. I shall tell what I saw and heard. I have never lied." CANON LOYSELEUR--"The truth must be boldly confessed, in the face of the judges. You must answer them: 'Yes, I have seen these supernatural beings with my eyes; yes, I have heard their marvelous voices with my ears.' Then, dear child, despite all its ill will, the tribunal, unable to catch the slightest hesitation in your words, will be forced to recognize that you are a sacred virgin, the elect, the inspired of heaven. And however perverse, however devoted to the English your judges may be, they will find themselves forced to absolve you and set you free." JOAN DARC (yielding to hope)--"If all that is needed to be saved is to tell the truth, then my deliverance is certain. Thanks to God and to you, good Father. Thanks for your friendly advice!" CANON LOYSELEUR--"If circumstantial details are asked for upon the form and shape of your apparitions, refuse to answer. They might be able to draw from your words some improper meaning. Limit yourself to the pure and simple affirmation of the reality of your visions and revelations." Outside of the cell the noise of numerous steps is heard, together with the rattle of arms and the words: "To your posts! To your posts! Here is the captain of the tower!"