JOHN OF NOVELPONT.
Shortly after Joan left, Robert of Baudricourt hastened to the table and
prepared to write, while saying to John of Novelpont: "I now think like
you; I shall forward the odd adventure to the King and submit to him the
opinion that at the desperate pass of things it may not be amiss to try
to profit by the influence which this young girl, who claims to be
inspired and sent by God, might exercise upon the army, which is
completely discouraged. I can see her, docile to the role that she will
be put to play, passing before the troops, herself clad in armor and her
handsome face under a casque of war! Man is captivated through his eyes
as well as through his mind." Robert of Baudricourt stopped upon
noticing that the Sire of Novelpont was not listening, but was pacing
the length of the hall. He cried: "John, what in the name of the devil
are you thinking about?"
"Robert," gravely answered the cavalier, "that girl is not a poor
visionary, to be used _in extremis_ like an instrument that one may
break if it does not meet expectations."
"What else is she?"
"Her looks, her voice, her attitude, her language--everything reveals an
extraordinary woman--an inspired woman."
"Are you going to take her visions seriously?"
"I am unable to penetrate such mysteries; I believe what I see, what I
hear and what I feel. Joan is or will be an illustrious warrior-maid,
and not a passive instrument in the hands of the captains. She may save
the country--"
"If she is a sorceress the curate will play the holy-water sprinkler
upon her, and report to us."
"I am so much impressed by her answers, her candor, her daring, her good
sense, her irresistible sincerity, that if the King sends word back with
your messenger that he consents to see Joan--I am resolved to accompany
her on her journey."
"Ah, Sir John," said Robert of Baudricourt, laughing; "that is a sudden
resolve! Are you smitten by the pretty eyes of the maid?"
"May I die if I am yielding to any improper thought! Such is the proud
innocence of that young girl that however lustful I might be, her looks
would instantly silence my lust.[41] I am ready to stake my salvation
upon it that Joan is chaste. Did you not see how she blushed to the
roots of her hair at the idea of riding alone in the company of the
horsemen of her escort? Did you not hear her express her wish to assume
man's clothes, which she would not take off day or night during her
journey? Robert, chastity ever proclaims a beautiful soul."
"If, indeed, she is chaste, she could not be a sorceress; demons, it is
said, can not possess the body of a virgin! But be on your guard, dear
sire; without your knowing it, the maid's beauty is seducing you. You
wish to be her cavalier during the long journey; lucky chances may offer
themselves to your amorous courtesy. But," added Robert of Baudricourt
in answer to an impatient gesture from his friend, "we shall drop
joking. This is what I think concerning the young girl: If she is not a
sorceress, her brain is disordered by visions, and she believes herself,
in good faith, inspired of God. Such as she is, or seems to be, the girl
can become a valuable instrument in the hands of the King. Soldiers and
the people are ignorant and credulous. If they see in Joan an emissary
of God, if they believe she brings them supernatural aid, they will
regain courage, and will make strenuous efforts to wipe out their
defeats. Her exaltation, if skilfully exploited by the chiefs of the
army, may have happy results. And that is the important point with us."
"The future will prove to you your error. Joan is too sincere, and right
or wrong, too deeply imbued with the divinity of her mission, to accept
the role that you imagine for her, to resign herself to being a machine
in the hands of the chiefs of the army. She will act upon her own
impulse. I take her to be naturally endowed with military genius, as
have been so many other captains who were at first unknown. Whatever may
happen, you must write to the King and inform him of what has happened."
"I think so, too."
"Which King are you writing to?"
"Have we two masters?"
"My dear Robert, I accompanied to court the Count of Metz, under whom I
commanded a company of a hundred lances. I have had a near look of
things at Chinon and at Loches. I have formed my opinion of our Sire."
"From which it follows that there are two Kings?"
"There is a King of the name of Charles VII, whose mind runs only upon
ruling the hearts of easy-going women. Unnerved by indulgence,
ungrateful, selfish, regardless of his honor, that prince, hemmed in at
Chinon or Loches by his favorites and his mistresses, allows his
soldiers to fight and die in the defence of the fragments of his
kingdom, but has never been seen at the head of his troops."
"It is a disgrace to the royalty!"
"There is another King. His name is George of La Tremouille, a jealous
despot, consumed with malice and vainglory, resentful. He rules supreme
over the two or three provinces that the kingdom of France now consists
of, and he dominates the royal council. He is the real master."
"I knew that the steward of the palace of our do-nothing King was the
Sire of La Tremouille; it is to him I meant to write."
"Do no such thing, Robert; take my advice!"
"You say yourself he is the master--the King in fact!"
"Yes; but anxious to remain master and King in fact, he will not
tolerate that any other than himself find the means to save Gaul. The
Sire of La Tremouille will, you may rest assured, reject Joan's
intervention. Write, on the contrary, direct to Charles VII. He will be
struck by the strangeness of the occurrence. If only out of curiosity he
will want to see Joan. He finds the day long in his retreat of Loches or
Chinon. The blandishments even of his mistresses are often unavailing to
draw him from his ennui. The arrival of Joan will be a novelty to him; a
pastime."
"You are a good adviser. I shall write direct to the King and expedite a
messenger to him on the spot. Should the answer be favorable to Joan,
would you still think of accompanying her?"
"Then more than ever!"
"The journey is long. You will have to traverse part of Burgundy and of
Champagne, both of them occupied by the enemy."
"I shall take with me my equerry Bertrand of Poulagny, a prudent and
resolute man. I shall join to him four well armed valets. A small troop
passes more easily unperceived. Moreover, as Joan wisely proposed, we
shall avoid the towns all we can by traveling by night, and shall rest
by day in isolated farm-houses."
"Do not forget that you will have to cross many rivers; since the war,
the bridges are everywhere destroyed."
"We will find ferries at all the rivers. From here we shall go to St.
Urbain, where we can stay without danger; we shall avoid Troyes, St.
Florentin, and Auxerre; arrived at Gien, we shall be on friendly soil.
We shall then proceed to Loches or Chinon, the royal residences."
"Admit it, Sire of Novelpont, are you not slightly smitten by the beauty
of Joan?"
"Sire Robert of Baudricourt, I feel proud of being the knight of the
warrior-maid and heroine, who, perhaps, may yet save Gaul."