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She had said so herself several times, just as she had to Dunois at Rheims on the 17th of July, 1429; but she sometimes also spoke of more vast and varied projects, as, for instance, driving the English completely out of France, and withdrawing from his long captivity Charles, Duke of Orleans.
Perhaps it was knowledge of her lack of comeliness which helped her to bear the burden of his follies; for according to Madame Dunois, though the duchess knew he was continually engaged in amours, she, by virtue of a patience uncommon to her sex, forbore mentioning the subject to him, and "had complaisance enough to entertain his mistresses, and even lodge them in her house, all which she suffered because she loved him."
The great captains, Dunois, Xaintrailles, d'Alençon, were soldiers, and the king's advisers and favourites were clergymen, like the Archbishop of Reims, or indolent men of peace, like La Tremouille. They declared, after the Maid was captured, that she 'took too much on herself, and they were glad of her fall.
But the Duke of Orleans, though accustomed to subject his mind to the stern yoke of his uncle when in the King's presence, had enough of princely nature to induce him to follow his own inclinations whenever that restraint was withdrawn; and his high rank giving him a right to overstep the ordinary ceremonies, and advance at once to familiarity, his praises of the Countess Isabelle's beauty became so energetic, and flowed with such unrestrained freedom, owing perhaps to his having drunk a little more wine than usual for Dunois was no enemy to the worship of Bacchus that at length he seemed almost impassioned, and the presence of the Princess appeared well nigh forgotten.
On the journey to Reims she met some Domremy people at Chalons, and told them that she 'feared nothing but treachery. Perhaps she already suspected the political enemies, the Archbishop of Reims and La Tremouille, who were to spoil her mission. As they went from Reims after the coronation, Dunois and the archbishop were riding by her rein. The people cheered and cried Noel.
SOLDIER. They're already in close fight. A furious warrior on a Barbary steed, In tiger's skin, leads forward the gens d'armes. JOHANNA. That's Count Dunois! on, gallant warrior! Conquest goes with thee. SOLDIER. The Burgundian duke Attacks the bridge. ISABEL. Would that ten hostile spears Might his perfidious heart transfix, the traitor! SOLDIER. Lord Fastolfe gallantly opposes him.
Meantime, we must obey his commands. These other lords and knights will be proud to contribute to the convenience of the illustrious Duke of Orleans, of the brave Dunois, and the stout Lord Crawford. I myself must be your Majesty's chamberlain, and bring you to your apartments in other guise than would be my desire, remembering the hospitality of Plessis.
His schemes for self-aggrandizement and the incidental enlightenment and prosperity of mankind had not thriven, and it was largely in pity that M. Dunois gave shelter to the ragged, half-starved, but still jaunty and resourceful adventurer. Dunois was the one man in the place who could pretend to some education, and the two got on together famously.
Dunois, La Hire, Xaintrailles, and Marshals De Boussac and De La Fayette were, under Charles VII., brilliant warriors and useful servants of the king and of Fiance; but, in spite of their knightly renown, it is questionable if they can be reckoned, like the constable De Richemont, amongst the liberators of national independence.
We were beginning to feel pretty important now, for I was eighteen and the other youths were from one to four years older young men, in fact. One day the Paladin was arrogantly criticizing the patriot generals of France and said: "Look at Dunois, Bastard of Orleans call him a general!
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