Who Doesn't Like Mathematics?

Jeanne Jugan and the saints are approaching the stationary point where Belle and Pierre-Louis are waiting.

Which reminds Pierre-Louis that he is a respected mathematician.

Does Belle know this?

What do you know of me? asks Pierre-Louis.

Only what papa has told me, says Belle. 

And what has he told you? asks Pierre-Louis. 

You went to Lapland, says Belle.  Oh, and you missed out on a battle because you had a slow donkey.

The battle was not in Lapland, says Pierre-Louis.

I didn't say it was, says Belle, 

I went to Lapland to make observations, says Pierre-Louis.

And got a hat, says Terence. 

Yes, this hat, says Pierre-Louis.

Which I'm borrowing, says Terence.

Later, says Pierre-Louis.

Observations, says Belle. That must have been nice.

Mathematical observations, says Pierre-Louis.

Great, says Belle. Who doesn't like mathematics?

Me, says Terence. What is it?

Calculations, says Pierre-Louis. I'm glad that you asked. 

Me too, says Terence. 

I'll give you an example, says Pierre-Louis. Take any system.

Okay, says Terence. Which one?

The path of a planetary orbit, says Pierre-Louis.

Not that one, says Terence.

Perhaps something closer to home, says Belle.

Pierre-Louis has a brain wave.

Take the path between us and Jeanne Jugan, says Pierre-Louis. She is in one state we are in another. The true path between us is composed of stationary points of abbreviated action.

Wow! says Belle. That sounds kind of .....obvious.

Even the obvious must be mathematically proven, says Pierre-Louis. It's my principle of least action. 

Jeanne Jugan and the saints pull up beside Belle and Pierre-Louis.

Bless you for waiting, puffs Saint Méen. 

No worries, says Belle. Pierre-Louis has been giving us a lesson in mathematics.

And you were in it, says Terence. Have you still got my frogs?

Jeanne Jugan pats her t shirt just below where her shorts' waistband should be.

Snug as bugs, says Jeanne Jugan.

Their position seems lower to Terence than it should be.