or your wound she
sorrowed much, not knowing, more than I who am simple, whether it would
turn to life or death. And if to life, then, if she could but persuade
the doctor and clergy and the King's counsellors to let her go, she said
that you should follow with her to the wars, and she, if so the saints
pleased, would be the making of your fortune, you and I being her first
friends."

"The saints fight for her!" I said, "for we have done our part thus far,
and I would that I may be well ere she raises her standard."

But here Elliot turned right pale, at the thought of my going to the
wars, she holding my face off and gazing steadily upon me with wistful
eyes.

"O God, send that the Maid go speedily!" she cried, "for as now you are
not fit to bear arms."

"Thou wouldst not have me lag behind, when the Maid's banner is on the
wind?"

"Nay," she said, but slowly, "thee and all that I have would I give for
her and for her cause, and for the saints. But now thou must not
go,"--and her eyes yearned upon me--"now that I could overthrow thee if
we came to war."

So here she laughed again, being like the weather without--a changeful
thing of shower and shine.

Thus we continued devising, and she told me that, some days after my
wounding, the Maid had held converse apart with the King, and then gave
him to wit of certain marvellous matters, that none might know save by
heavenly inspiration. But what these matters might be none could tell,
save the King and the Maiden only.

That this was sooth I can affirm, having myself been present in later
years, when one that affected to be the very Pucelle, never slain, or re-
arisen by miracle, came before the King, and truly she had beguiled many.
Then the King said, "Welcome Pucelle, ma mie, thou art welcome if thou
hast memory of that secret thing which is between thee and me." Whereon
this false woman, as one confounded, fell on her knees and confessed her
treason.

This that Elliot told me, therefore, while the sun shone into the chamber
through the bare vine-tendrils, was sooth, and by this miracle, it seems,
the Maid had at last won the ear of the King. So he bade carry her to
Poictiers, where the doctors and the learned were but now examining into
her holy life, and her knowledge of religion, being amazed by the wisdom
of her answers. The noble ladies about her, too, and these mendicant
friars that were sent to hold inquisition concerning her at Domremy, had
foun