rather this very
night to perish. For I am clean confessed, within these six hours,
knowing that I was like to be in some jeopardy."

"Then," she said, smiling sweetly, and signing that I should take her
hand--"Then live, Norman Leslie, for this is to me an easy thing and a
joyous. Thou art a clerk, hast thou wherewithal to write?"

"Yes, Madame, here in my wallet."

"Then write as I tell thee:--

"JHESU MARIA"

"'I, Jehanne la Pucelle, send from prison here in Rouen my tidings of
love to Elliot Hume, my first friend among women, and bid her, for my
sake, wed him who loves her, Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, my faithful
servant, praying that all happiness may go with them. In witness
whereto, my hand being guided to write, I set my name, Jehanne la
Pucelle, this ninth day of May, in the year Fourteen hundred and
thirty-one.'

"So guide my hand," she said, taking the pen from my fingers; and thus
guided, while my tears fell on her hand, she wrote JEHANNE LA PUCELLE.

"Now," quoth she, smiling as of old, "we must seal this missive. Cut off
one lock of my hair with your dagger, for my last gift to my first
friend, and make the seal all orderly."

I did as she bade, and, bringing a lighted stick from the brazier, I
melted wax. Then, when it was smooth, she laid on it two hairs from the
little sundered lock (as was sometimes her custom), and bade me seal with
my own signet, and put the brief in my wallet.

"Now, all is done," she said.

"Nay, nay," I said, "to die for thee is more to me than to live in love.
Ah, nay, go forth, I beseech thee!"

"With victory shall I go forth, and now I lay my last commands on the
last of all my servants. If in aught I have ever offended thee, in word
or deed, forgive me!"

I could but bow my head, for I was weeping, though her eyes were dry.

"And so, farewell," she said--

"As thou art leal and true, begone; it is my order, and make no tarrying.
To-morrow I have much to do, and needs must I sleep while these men are
quiet. Say to thy lady that I love her dearly, and bid her hope, as I
also hope. Farewell!"

She moved her thin hand, which I kissed, kneeling.

Again she said "Farewell," and turned her back on me as if she would
sleep.

Then I hung the chain and key again on the neck of the lourdaud; I put
some of the fallen coins in the men's pouches, but bestowed the dice and
tablier in my wallet. I opened the door, and went forth, not looki