tranquil, and quite at her ease. She called no witnesses, saying she
would content herself with examining the witnesses for the
prosecution. When they had testified, she rose and reviewed their
testimony in a few words, pronounced it vague, confused, and of
no force, then she placed the Paladin again on the stand and began
to search him. His previous testimony went rag by rag to ruin
under her ingenious hands, until at last he stood bare, so to speak,
he that had come so richly clothed in fraud and falsehood. His
counsel began an argument, but the court declined to hear it, and
threw out the case, adding a few words of grave compliment for
Joan, and referring to her as “this marvelous child.”
After this victory, with this high praise from so imposing a source
added, the fickle village turned again, and gave Joan countenance,
compliment, and peace. Her mother took her back to her heart, and
even her father relented and said he was proud of her. But the time
hung heavy on her hands, nevertheless, for the siege of Orleans
was begun, the clouds lowered darker and darker over France, and
still her Voices said wait, and gave her no direct commands. The
winter set in, and wore tgediously along; but at last there was a
change.
BOOK II IN COURT AND CAMP
Chapter 1 Joan Says Good-By
THE 5th of January, 1429, Joan came to me with her uncle Laxart,
and said:
“The time is come. My Voices are not vague now, but clear, and
they have told me what to do. In two months I shall be with the
Dauphin.”
Her spirits were high, and her bearing martial. I caught the
infection and felt a great impulse stirring in me that was like what
one feels when he hears the roll of the drums and the tramp of
marching men.
“I believe it,” I said.
“I also believe it,” said Laxart. “If she had told me before, that she
was commanded of God to rescue France, I should not have
believed; I should have let her seek the governor by her own ways
and held myself clear of meddling in the matter, not doubting she
was mad. But I have seen her stand before those nobles and might
men unafraid, and say her say; and she had not been able to do that
but by the help of God. That I know. Therefore with all
humbleness I am at her command, to do with me as she will.”
“My uncle is very good to me,” Joan said. “I sent and asked him to
come and persuade my mother to let him take me home with him
to tend his wife, who is not well. It is arranged, and we go at dawn
to-morrow. From his house I shall go soon to Vaucouleurs, and
wait and strive until my prayer is granted. Who were the two
cavaliers who sat to your left at the governor’s table that day?”
“One was the Sieur Jean de Novelonpont de Metz, the other the
Sieur Bertrand de Poulengy.”
“Good metal–good metal, both. I marked them for men of mine. . .
. What is it I see in your face? Doubt?”
I was teaching myself to speak the truth to her, not trimming it or
polishing it; so I said:
“They considered you out of your head, and said so. It is true they
pitied you for being in such misfortune, but still they held you to
be mad.”
This did not seem to trouble her in any way or wound her. She
only said:
“The wise change their minds when they perceive that they have
been in error. These will. They will march with me. I shall see
them presently. . . . You seem to doubt again? Do you doubt?”
“N-no. Not now. I was remembering that it was a year ago, and
that they did not belong here, but only chanced to stop a day on
their journey.”
“They will come again. But as to matters now in hand; I came to
leave with you some instructions. You will follow me in a few
days. Order your affairs, for you will be absent long.”