is Sir Hugh that hath just held to ransom the King's good town of
Tours, where is that gracious lady the mother of the King's wife, the
Queen of Sicily."

Hereat I waxed red as fire.

"He will be in arrears of his pay, no doubt," I made answer.

"It is very like," said Father Francois: "but considering all that you
tell me, I crave your pardon if I still think that the Blessed Maid has
won you from the common ways of your countrymen."

To which, in faith, I had no answer to make, but that my fortune was like
to be the happier in this world and the next.

"Much need have all men of her goodness, and we of her valour," said the
father, and he sighed. "This is now the fourth siege of Compiegne I have
seen, and twice have the leads from our roofs and the metal of our bells
been made into munition of war. Absit omen Domine! And now they say the
Duke of Burgundy has sworn to slay all, and spare neither woman nor
child."

"A vaunt of war, father. Call they not him the Good Duke? When we lay
before Paris, the English put about a like lying tale concerning us, as
if we should sack and slay all."

"I pray that you speak sooth," said Father Francois.

On the next day, being May the twentieth, he came to me again, with a wan
face.

"Burgundians are in Claroix," said he, "across the river, and yet others,
with Jean de Luxembourg, at Margny, scarce a mile away, at the end of the
causeway through the water meadows, beyond the bridge. And the Duke is
at Coudun, a league off to the right of Claroix, and I have clomb the
tower-top, and thence seen the English at Venette, on the left hand of
the causeway. All is undone."

"Nay, father, be of better cheer. Our fort at the bridge end is stronger
than Les Tourelles were at Orleans. The English shot can scarce cross
the river. Bridge the enemy has none, and northward and eastward all is
open. Be of better heart, Heaven helps France."

"We have sent to summon the Maid," said he, "from Crepy-en-Valois. In
her is all my hope; but you speak lightly, for you are young, and war is
your trade."

"And praying is yours, father, wherefore you should be bolder than I."

But he shook his head.

So two days passed, and nothing great befell, but in the grey dawn of May
the twenty-third I was held awake by clatter of horsemen riding down the
street under the window of my chamber. And after matins came Father
Francois, his face very joyful, with the tidings that the Maid, and a