God the
Father were a soldier, He would rob.' I judge he is the right man to take
temporary charge there at Blois. Joan has cast the seeing eye upon him,
you see."

"Which brings us back to where we started. I have an honest affection for
the Paladin, and not merely because he is a good fellow, but because he
is my child--I made him what he is, the windiest blusterer and most
catholic liar in the kingdom. I'm glad of his luck, but I hadn't the
seeing eye. I shouldn't have chosen him for the most dangerous post in
the army. I should have placed him in the rear to kill the wounded and
violate the dead."

"Well, we shall see. Joan probably knows what is in him better than we
do. And I'll give you another idea. When a person in Joan of Arc's
position tells a man he is brave, he believes it; and believing it is
enough; in fact, to believe yourself brave is to be brave; it is the one
only essential thing."

"Now you've hit it!" cried Noel. "She's got the creating mouth as well as
the seeing eye! Ah, yes, that is the thing. France was cowed and a
coward; Joan of Arc has spoken, and France is marching, with her head
up!"

I was summoned now to write a letter from Joan's dictation. During the
next day and night our several uniforms were made by the tailors, and our
new armor provided. We were beautiful to look upon now, whether clothed
for peace or war. Clothed for peace, in costly stuffs and rich colors,
the Paladin was a tower dyed with the glories of the sunset; plumed and
sashed and iron-clad for war, he was a still statelier thing to look at.

Orders had been issued for the march toward Blois. It was a clear, sharp,
beautiful morning. As our showy great company trotted out in column,
riding two and two, Joan and the Duke of Alencon in the lead, D'Aulon and
the big standard-bearer next, and so on, we made a handsome spectacle, as
you may well imagine; and as we plowed through the cheering crowds, with
Joan bowing her plumed head to left and right and the sun glinting from
her silver mail, the spectators realized that the curtain was rolling up
before their eyes upon the first act of a prodigious drama, and their
rising hopes were expressed in an enthusiasm that increased with each
moment, until at last one seemed to even physically feel the concussion
of the huzzas as well as hear them. Far down the street we heard the
softened strains of wind-blown music, and saw a cloud of lancers moving,
the sun glowing with a subd