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He moved Joan out of that poor inn, and housed her, with us her servants, in the Castle of Courdray, personally confiding her to the care of Madame de Bellier, wife of old Raoul de Gaucourt, Master of the Palace.
None of us spoke to her, and Pasquerel, her good chaplain, rode behind telling his beads as he went. We reached the Burgundy Gate; and behold it was fast shut. At the portal stood De Gaucourt, a notable warrior, with a grim look about his mouth. The Maid saluted him courteously, and quietly bid him open the gate. But he budged not an inch.
Besides Dunois, who commanded the besieged garrison, was Raoul de Gaucourt, who had defended Harfleur in 1415; he had but recently returned from imprisonment in England, and was burning to avenge his captivity. La Hire, Xaintrailles, Coulant, Coaraze, and Armagnac were among the defenders of Orleans.
The Maid told me in her lodging that she had sent you, grandmother, a small gold ring, which was indeed a very small affair, and that she would fain have sent you something better, considering your recommendation. To-day M. d'Alencon, the Bastard of Orleans, and Gaucourt were to leave Selles, following the Maid.
They believed the Maid was a match for the council, and they were right. When we reached the gate, Joan told Gaucourt to open it and let her pass. He said it would be impossible to do this, for his orders were from the council and were strict. Joan said: "There is no authority above mine but the King's. If you have an order from the King, produce it."
And men like Dunois, La Hire, and the Chevalier Gaucourt heard this without a murmur! Think of it! a campaign conducted by a girl of seventeen, who, until a few weeks before, had never seen a shot fired in her life! Ah; but all men remembered Orleans, and were not surprised at the King's decree.
At a word from her, they would have flashed forth, and De Gaucourt would have been a dead man had he sought to hinder us in the opening of the gate. But the Maid read our purpose in our eyes and in our gestures, and she stayed us by her lifted hand. "Not so, my friends," she answered gravely, "but the Chevalier de Gaucourt will himself order the opening of the gate.
Joan led the vanguard, followed by Alençon, de Rais, Dunois, and Gaucourt. At Orleans they were joined by fresh forces under Vendôme and Boussac. On the 11th of June the army amounted to eight thousand men. Jargeau was the first place to be attacked. Here Suffolk, with between six and seven thousand men, all picked soldiers, had established himself.
"To-day," quoth the Maid, "shall we take Les Tourelles, and to-morrow not a goddon, save prisoners and slain men, shall be within three leagues of Orleans. Gentle sir, bid open the gate, for to-day have I work to do." Thereat Gaucourt shook his head, and from the multitude of townsfolk rose one great angry shout.
But he, with the flagon full in his hands, and withal a thirsty look upon his face, shook his head. "To another pledge, Maiden, I will gladly drink, namely, to the bravest damsel under the sky." And therewith he drank deep. "But now I am sent from Gaucourt, and the Bastard, for all the captains are in counsel again.
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