the word traveled; and when a man got it in the night, at what hour
soever, he jumped out of his bed and bore the blessed message
along. And the joy that went with it was like the light that flows
across the land when an eclipse is receding from the face of the
sun; and, indeed, you may say that France had lain in an eclipse
this long time; yes, buried in a black gloom which these beneficent
tidings were sweeping away now before the onrush of their white
splendor.
The news beat the flying enemy to Yeuville, and the town rose
against its English masters and shut the gates against their
brethren. It flew to Mont Pipeau, to Saint Simon, and to this, that,
and the other English fortress; and straightway the garrison applied
the torch and took to the fields and the woods. A detachment of
our army occupied Meung and pillaged it.
When we reached Orleans that tow was as much as fifty times
insaner with joy than we had ever seen it before–which is saying
much. Night had just fallen, and the illuminations were on so
wonderful a scale that we seemed to plow through seas of fire; and
as to the noise–the hoarse cheering of the multitude, the
thundering of cannon, the clash of bells–indeed, there was never
anything like it. And everywhere rose a new cry that burst upon us
like a storm when the column entered the gates, and nevermore
ceased: “Welcome to Joan of Arc–way for the SAVIOR OF
FRANCE!” And there was another cry: “Cr‚cy is avenged! Poitiers
is avenged! Agincourt is avenged!–Patay shall live forever!”
Mad? Why, you never could imagine it in the world. The prisoners
were in the center of the column. When that came along and the
people caught sight of their masterful old enemy Talbot, that had
made them dance so long to his grim war-music, you may imagine
what the uproar was like if you can, for I can not describe it. They
were so glad to see him that presently they wanted to have him out
and hang him; so Joan had him brought up to the front to ride in
her protection. They made a striking pair.
Chapter 33 Joan’s Five Great Deeds
YES, ORLEANS was in a delirium of felicity. She invited the
King, and made sumptuous preparations to receive him, but–he
didn’t come. He was simply a serf at that time, and La Tremouille
was his master. Master and serf were visiting together at the
master’s castle of Sully-sur-Loire.
At Beaugency Joan had engaged to bring about a reconciliation
between the Constable Richemont and the King. She took
Richemont to Sully-sur-Loire and made her promise good.
The great deeds of Joan of Arc are five:
1. The Raising of the Siege.
2. The Victory of Patay.
3. The Reconciliation at Sully-sur-Loire.
4. The Coronation of the King.
5. The Bloodless March.
We shall come to the Bloodless March presently (and the
Coronation). It was the victorious long march which Joan made
through the enemy’s country from Gien to Rheims, and thence to
the gates of Paris, capturing every English town and fortress that
barred the road, from the beginning of the journey to the end of it;
and this by the mere force of her name, and without shedding a
drop of blood–perhaps the most extraordinary campaign in this
regard in history–this is the most glorious of her military exploits.
The Reconciliation was one of Joan’s most important
achievements. No one else could have accomplished it; and, in
fact, no one else of high consequence had any disposition to try. In
brains, in scientific warfare, and in statesmanship the Constable
Richemont was the ablest man in France. His loyalty was sincere;
his probity was above suspicion–(and it made him sufficiently
conspicuous in that trivial and conscienceless Court).
In restoring Richemont to France, Joan made thoroughly secure the
successful completion of the great work which she had begun. She
had never seen Richemont until he came to her with his little army.
Was it not wonderful that at a glance she should know him for the
one man who could finish and perfect her work and establish it in