SAINT ANTHONY If you’re afraid of losing the money, then I won’t raise her from the dead. VIRGINIE Couldn’t I keep the money and you bring her back to life just the same? SAINT ANTHONY No, you must take it or leave it. I came down in answer to your prayers: it’s for you to choose. VIRGINIE (_After a moment’s reflection._) Well, then, bring her back to life all the same. (_The SAINT’S halo lights up and shines._) What’s the matter with you now? SAINT ANTHONY You have pleased me. VIRGINIE And then does that lantern thing light up? SAINT ANTHONY Yes, of itself. VIRGINIE That’s funny.... But don’t stand so near the lace curtains, or you’ll set them on fire. SAINT ANTHONY There’s no danger: it’s celestial flame.... Take me to the body. VIRGINIE I’ve told you: you must wait. I can’t disturb them now. They’re still at lunch. SAINT ANTHONY Who? VIRGINIE Why, my masters, of course! The whole family! First her two nephews, Monsieur Gustave and Monsieur Achille, with their wives and children, Monsieur Georges, Monsieur Alberic, Monsieur Alphonse and Monsieur Désiré.... And cousins, male and female, and the Rector and the Doctor and I don’t know who besides: friends and relatives from a distance, whom I’d never seen. They’re very rich people. SAINT ANTHONY Really? VIRGINIE Did you notice the street? SAINT ANTHONY What street? VIRGINIE Why, ours, of course! The one in which our house stands. SAINT ANTHONY Yes. VIRGINIE It’s a handsome street. Well, all the houses on the left-hand side of the street, except the little one at the end, the baker’s shop, belong to Mademoiselle Hortense. Those on the right-hand side are Monsieur Gustave’s. There are twenty houses. That means money. SAINT ANTHONY No doubt. VIRGINIE (_Pointing to the halo._) Look, your lantern thing is going out. SAINT ANTHONY (_Feeling his halo._) Yes, I’m afraid.... VIRGINIE Doesn’t it keep burning very long? SAINT ANTHONY It all depends upon the thoughts that feed it. VIRGINIE Yes, they own woods ... and farms ... and houses galore! Monsieur Gustave has a starch-factory: Gustave’s Starch, you’ve heard of it, I expect! Oh, they’re an amazingly well-off family. There are four of them who live on their incomes and do no business at all. That’s splendid, that is!... And such friends and acquaintances and tenants!... Well, they’ve all come to the funeral, some of them from ever so far. There’s one, I’m told, who travelled two days and two nights to get here in time. I’ll show him to you: he has a lovely beard.... They’re lunching here. They haven’t finished yet. We can’t disturb them. It’s a great lunch: there are twenty-four of them sitting down to it. And I’ve seen the bill of fare: there’s oysters, two soups, three entrées, crayfish in jelly, and trout _à la Schubert_. Do you know what that is? SAINT ANTHONY No. VIRGINIE