lf, she said--

"Alas! I warned him, but he died unconfessed. I will do what I may to
have Masses said for the repose of his soul, poor man: and he so young!"

With that she wept, for she wept readily, even for a less thing than such
a death as was that archer's.

We had now crossed the drawbridge, whereat my heart beat more lightly,
and the Maiden told Poulengy that she would go to the house where she
lodged, near the castle.

"And thence," she said, "I must fare into the town, for I have promised
to visit a damsel of my friends, one Heliote Poulvoir, if I may find my
way thither. Know you, gentle damsel," she said to me, "where she
abides? Or perchance you can lead me thither, if it lies on your way."

"I was even going thither, Pucelle," I said, mincing in my speech;
whereat she laughed, for of her nature she was merry.

"Scots are Heliote and her father, and a Scot are not you also, damsel?
your speech betrays you," she said; "you all cling close together, you
Scots, as beseems you well, being strangers in this sweet land of
France"; and her face lighted up as she spoke the name she loved, and my
heart worshipped her with reverence.

"Farewell," she cried to Poulengy, smiling graciously, and bowing with
such a courtesy as a queen might show, for I noted it myself, as did all
men, that this peasant girl had the manners of the Court, being schooled,
as I deem, by the greatest of ladies, her friends St. Margaret and St.
Catherine.

Then, with an archer, who had ridden beside her from Vaucouleurs,
following after her as he ever did, the Maiden and I began to go down the
steep way that led to the town. Little she spoke, and all my thought was
to enter the house before Elliot could spy me in my strange disguise.

CHAPTER VII--CONCERNING THE WRATH OF ELLIOT, AND THE JEOPARDY OF NORMAN
LESLIE

The while we went down into the city of Chinon, a man attired as a maid,
a maiden clad as a man--strange companions!--we held but little converse.
Her mind, belike, was on fire with a great light of hope, of which
afterwards I learned, and the end of the days of trouble and of men's
disbelief seemed to her to be drawing near. We may not know what visions
of victory and of auxiliary angels, of her King crowned, and fair France
redeemed and at peace, were passing through her fancy. Therefore she was
not fain to talk, being at all times a woman of few words; and in this,
as in so many other matters, unlike most