The crowd soon resumes the dance. His song dedicates the flowers to his beloved, but they do indeed wither in his hand. Dipping his fingers in holy water under a shrine to the Virgin, he finds he can pluck a fresh bouquet safely, and leaves it for Marguerite. Marguerite enters, distracted by remembering the handsome stranger. As she ends her song, she notices the flowers and the jewel box.
Surprise gives way to curiosity, and curiosity to experiment.
She bedecks herself, happy at the beauty in the mirror she finds in the casket. Marthe, an older duenna or neighbor, enters. She suddenly recovers her modest demeanor, and sends Faust away. But he, egged on by the Devil, returns to her as she appears languishing in her window. The Devil's mocking laughter accompanies the final music.