ill not
receive me I will dictate a letter to him, and so must have some one by
me who knows the art of how to write and spell the words. You will go
from here to-morrow in the afternoon, and remain in Vaucouleurs until I
need you."

I said I would obey, and she went her way. You see how clear a head she
had, and what a just and level judgment. She did not order me to go with
her; no, she would not subject her good name to gossiping remark. She
knew that the governor, being a noble, would grant me, another noble,
audience; but no, you see, she would not have that, either. A poor
peasant-girl presenting a petition through a young nobleman--how would
that look? She always protected her modesty from hurt; and so, for
reward, she carried her good name unsmirched to the end. I knew what I
must do now, if I would have her approval: go to Vaucouleurs, keep out of
her sight, and be ready when wanted.

I went the next afternoon, and took an obscure lodging; the next day I
called at the castle and paid my respects to the governor, who invited me
to dine with him at noon of the following day. He was an ideal soldier of
the time; tall, brawny, gray-headed, rough, full of strange oaths
acquired here and there and yonder in the wars and treasured as if they
were decorations. He had been used to the camp all his life, and to his
notion war was God's best gift to man. He had his steel cuirass on, and
wore boots that came above his knees, and was equipped with a huge sword;
and when I looked at this martial figure, and heard the marvelous oaths,
and guessed how little of poetry and sentiment might be looked for in
this quarter, I hoped the little peasant-girl would not get the privilege
of confronting this battery, but would have to content herself with the
dictated letter.

I came again to the castle the next day at noon, and was conducted to the
great dining-hall and seated by the side of the governor at a small table
which was raised a couple of steps higher than the general table. At the
small table sat several other guests besides myself, and at the general
table sat the chief officers of the garrison. At the entrance door stood
a guard of halberdiers, in morion and breastplate.

As for talk, there was but one topic, of course--the desperate situation
of France. There was a rumor, some one said, that Salisbury was making
preparations to march against Orleans. It raised a turmoil of excited
conversation, and opinions fell thick