!" All this time Messire Florimont Lecocq was within-doors doing
on his armour. He now came forth at the noise, before he had buckled his
leg-pieces. Seeing the Monk standing on his mounting-block, he asked:
"What is this good Father saying?" And a chorus of voices answered:
"Telling us that Messire Charles of Valois is going to enter the city,"
while others cried:

"He is against the folk of Paris," and others again:

"He would fain cozen and betray us, like the Brother Richard, who at
this very time is riding with our enemies."

But Brother Joconde made answer: "There be neither Armagnacs, nor
Burgundians, nor French, nor English, but only the sons of light and
the sons of darkness. Ye are lewd fellows and your women wantons."

"Go to, thou apostate! thou sorcerer! thou traitor!" yelled Messire
Florimont Lecocq,--and lugging out his sword, he plunged it in the good
Brother's bosom.

With pale lips and faltering voice, the man of God still managed to say:

"Pray, fast, do penance, and ye shall be forgiven, my brethren..."

Then his voice choked, as the blood poured from his mouth, and he fell
on the stones. Two knights, Sir John Stewart and Sir George Morris,
threw themselves on the body and pierced it with more than a hundred
dagger thrusts, vociferating:

"Long life to King Henry! Long life to my Lord the Duke of Bedford! Down
with the Dauphin! Down with the mad Maid of the Armagnacs! Up, up! To
the Gates, to the Gates!"

Therewith they ran to the Walls, drawing off with them Messire Florimont
and the crowd of citizens.

Meanwhile the holy women and the gardener tarried about the bleeding
corse. Simone la Bardine lay prostrate on the ground, kissing the good
Brother's feet and wiping away his blood with her unbound hair.

But Guillaumette Dyonis, standing up with her arms lifted to heaven,
cried in a voice as clear as the sound of bells:

"My sisters, Jeanne, Opportune and Simone, and you, my brother, Robin
the gardener, let us be going, for the times are at hand. The soul
of this good Father holds me by the hand, and it will lead me aright.
Wherefore ye must follow along with me. And we will say to those who are
making cruel war upon each other: 'Kiss and make peace. And if ye must
needs use your arms, take up the cross and go forth all together to
fight the Saracens.' Come! my sisters and my brother."

Jeanne Chastenier picked up the shaft of an arrow from the ground, brake
it, and made a cross, whic