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The sound of military music and the tramp of marching men could be heard approaching louder and louder. Five girls had forced their way to the very front row of the throne and were applauding and shouting with the rest. These were the light ladies of the Fircone, Isabeau, Jehanneton, Denise, and Blanche with Guillemette, fat Robin Turgis' fat daughter.
Huguette, tired of glaring at her offending minions, again turned her scornful attention to her dejected lover. "Cry-baby!" she sneered scornfully, pointing with derisive finger at Master François, in whose eyes indeed the close observer could discern the threatening of tears. Jehanneton came sidling round to Villon, piqued by natural curiosity, and the desire to vex Huguette.
"Stay," he said in a low tone to his companion, Robin Poussepain, who was grinning at his side, while he was making his comments on the scenes which were being unfolded before his eyes, "yonder is Jehanneton du Buisson. The beautiful daughter of the lazy dog at the Marche-Neuf! Upon my soul, he is condemning her, the old rascal! he has no more eyes than ears.
I am a rogue and a vagabond, no less, and so sometimes I love you and other such Athanasian wenches; Isabeau there and Jehanneton." At this mention of her novices' names the Abbess turned on the two girls fiercely. "You minxes," she cried. "Do you make eyes at my man?"
Gaudy, painted, assertive strumpets with young, fair, shameless faces worthy Jills of the ill-favoured Jacks who cuddled them Jehanneton, the fair helm-maker; Denise, Blanche, Isabeau, and Guillemette, the landlord's daughter, who consorted gaily enough with these brightly-plumaged birds of a rogue's paradise. But the sixth woman was a bird of quite another feather.
Go and gather yourself roses, my roses, to take back to what, Heaven pity you! you call your homes." Jehanneton gave a little gasp of surprise. "Are we free?" Villon answered her sadly, "Free? Poor children! Such as you are never free. Go and pray Heaven to make men better, for the sake of your daughter's daughters."
Yonder she-thing in the man's habit is Huguette du Hamel, a wild wench, whom men call the Abbess for her nunnery of light o' loves. There be four of her minions with her now, Jehanneton la belle Heaulmiere as they name her, Denise the slipper-maker, Blanche and Isabeau. Oh, they are delectable doxies!" King Louis pursed his thin lips in austere censure. "They shall be reproved hereafter," he said.
The men and women gathered about him, like bees about a rose-bush. Huguette placed herself on a stool at his feet. Jehanneton flung herself full length on the ground and stared up into his face. Robin Turgis straddled a bench at some distance and grinned.
When the girls were close to him, Villon spoke: "Well, young ladies, what is this trade of yours that has brought you into trouble?" Jehanneton dropped a curtsey. "I make the caps that line helmets." Isabeau followed quickly, "I am a lace weaver. Enne, an honest trade." Blanche came next, "I am a slipper maker." Denise ended the catalogue. "And I a glover." Mischief danced in Villon's eyes.
Then she sends Dame Agnes to see to the pet dogs and birds, "for they cannot speak and so you must speak and think for them if you have any". Then, if she be in her country house, she must take thought for the farm animals and Dame Agnes must superintend those who have charge of them, Robin the shepherd, Josson the oxherd, Arnoul the cowherd, Jehanneton the milkmaid, and Eudeline the farmer's wife who looks after the poultry yard.
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