ng
back; and so from the castle, showing my pass, and giving the porter
another coin. Then I went home, in the sweet dawn of May, and casting
myself on my bed, I wept bitterly, for to-day she should be tormented.

* * * * *

Of the rest I have no mind to tell (though they had not the heart to
torture the Maid), for it puts me out of charity with a people who have a
name to be Christians, and it is my desire, if I may, to forgive all men
before I die.

At Rouen I endured to abide, even until the day of unjust doom, and my
reason was that I ever hoped for some miracle, even as her Saints had
promised. But it was their will that she should be made perfect through
suffering, and being set free through the gate of fire, should win her
victory over unfaith and mortal fear. Wherefore I stood afar off at the
end, seeing nothing of what befell; yet I clearly heard, as did all men
there, the last word of her sweet voice, and the cry of JHESUS!

Then I passed through the streets where men and women, and the very
English, were weeping, and, saddling my swiftest horse, I rode to the
east port. When the gate had closed behind me, I turned, and, lifting my
hand, I tore the cross of St. George from my doublet.

"Dogs!" I cried, "ye have burned a Saint! A curse on cruel English and
coward French! St Andrew for Scotland!" The shafts and bolts hailed
past me as I wheeled about; there was mounting of steeds, and a clatter
of hoofs behind me, but the sound died away ere I rode into Louviers.

There I told them the tale which was their shame, and so betook me to
Tours, and to my lady.

CHAPTER XXXII--THE END OF THIS CHRONICLE

It serves not to speak of my later fortunes, being those of a private
man, nor have I the heart to recall old sorrows. We were wedded when
Elliot's grief had in some sort abated, and for one year we were happier
than God has willed that sinful men should long be in this world. Then
that befell which has befallen many. I may not write of it: suffice it
that God took from me both her and her child. Then, after certain weeks
and days of which I am blessed enough to keep little memory, I forswore
arms, and served in the household of the Lady Margaret of Scotland, who
married the Dauphin on an unhappy day. I have known much of Courts and
of the learned, I have seen the wicked man exalted, and Brother Thomas
Noiroufle in great honour with Charles VII. King of France, and offering
before him, with