rcoul, forsooth, seeing that, unless he goes there to do
his devotions, he may not touch the sick and heal the crewels. {29}
Faith, they that have the crewels might even wait till the King has come
to his own again; they have waited long enough to learn patience while he
was Dauphin. It should be Paris first, and Saint Marcoul and the crewels
afterwards, but anything to waste time and keep out of the brunt of the
battle." Here he struck his hand on the table so that the vessels
leaped. "I fear what may come of it," he said. "For every day that
passes is great loss to us and much gain to our enemies of England, who
will anon garrison Paris."

"Faint-heart," cried Elliot, plucking his beard. "You will never believe
in the Maid, who has never yet failed to help us, by the aid of the
saints."

"The saints help them that help themselves," he answered. "And Paris
town has walls so strong, that once the fresh English are entered in,
even the saints may find it a hard bargain. But you, Elliot, run up and
see if my chamber be ready, for I am well weary." She ran forth, and my
master, turning to me, said in a low voice, "I have something for your
own ear, but I feared to grieve her. In a booth at Reims I saw her
jackanapes doing his tricks, and when he came round questing with his
bowl the little beast knew me and jumped up into my arms, and wailed as
if he had been a Christian. Then I was for keeping him, but I was set on
by three or four stout knaves, and, I being alone, and the crowd taking
their part, I thought it not well to draw sword, and so break the King's
peace that had just then begun to be King. But my heart was sore for the
poor creature, and, in very truth, I bring back no light heart, save to
see you twain again, for I fear me that the worst of the darg {30} is
still to do. But here comes Elliot, so no word of the jackanapes."

Therewith he went off to his chamber, and I to mine, with less pleasure
than I had looked for. Still, the thought came into my heart that, the
longer the delay of the onslaught on Paris, the better chance I had to
take part therein; and the harder the work, the greater the glory.

The boding words of my master proved over true. The King was sacred on
July the sixteenth, and Paris then stood empty of English soldiers, being
garrisoned by Burgundians only. But, so soon as he was anointed, the
King began to parley with Burgundy, and thus they spun out the time,
till, on July t