第99章 HOW NORMAN LESLIE TOOK SERVICE WITH THE ENGLISH(1)

"What make we now?"I asked of Barthelemy Barrette,one day,after the companies had scattered,as I have said,and we had gone back into Compiegne."What stroke may France now strike for the Maid?"He hung his head and plucked at his beard,ere he spoke.

"To be as plain with you as my heart is with myself,Norman,"he answered at last,"deliverance,or hope of deliverance,see I none.

The English have the bird in the cage,and Rouen is not a strength that can be taken by sudden onslaught.And,were it so,where is our force,in midwinter?I rather put my faith,that can scarce move mountains,in some subtle means,if any man might devise them.""We cannot sit idle here,"I said."And for three long months there will be no moving of armies in open field.""And in three months these dogs of false French doctors of Paris will have tried and condemned the Maid.For my part,I ride with my handful of spears to the Loire.Perchance there is yet some hope in the King.""Then I ride with you,granted your goodwill,for I must needs to Tours,and I have overmuch treasure in my wallet to ride alone."Indeed,I was now a rich man,more by luck than by valour;and though I said nought of it,I hoped that my long wooing might now come to a happy end.

Barthelemy clasped hands gladly on that offer;and not to make a long tale,he and his men were my escort to Tours,and thence he rode to Sully to see the King.

I had no heart for glad surprises this time,but having sent on a letter to my master,by a King's messenger who rode from Compiegne ere we did,I was expected and welcomed by Elliot and my master,with all the joy that might be,after our long severance.And in my master's hands I laid my newly gotten gear,and heard privily from him that,with his goodwill,I and his daughter might wed so soon as she would.

"For she is pining with grief,and prayer,and fasting,and marriage is the best remede for such maladies."Of this grace I was right glad;yet Christmas went by and I dared not speak,for Elliot seemed set on far other things than mirth,and was ever and early in the churches,above all when service and prayer were offered up for the Maid.She was very willing to hear all the tale of the long siege,and her face,that was thin and wan,unlike her bright countenance of old,flushed scarlet when she heard how we had bearded and shamed the noble Duke of Burgundy,and what words Xaintrailles had spoken concerning his nobleness.

"There is one true knight left in France!"she said,and fell silent again.

Then,we being alone in the chamber,I tried to take her hand,but she drew it away.

"My dear love,"she said,"I know all that is in your heart,and all my love that is in mine you know well.But in mine there is no care for happiness and joy,and to speak as plain as a maiden may,I have now no will to marry.While the Sister of the Saints lies in duresse,or if she be unjustly slain,I have set up my rest to abide unwed,for ever,as the Bride of Heaven.And,if the last evil befall her,as well I deem it must,I shall withdraw me from the world into the sisterhood of the Clarisses."Had the great mid-beam of the roof fallen and smitten me,I could not have been stricken more dumb and dead.My face showed what was in my mind belike,for,looking fearfully and tenderly on me,she took my hand between hers and cherished it.

"My love,"I said at last,"you see in what case I am,that can scarce speak for sorrow,after all I have ventured,and laboured,and won,for you and for the Maid.""And I,"she answered,"being but a girl,can venture and give nothing but my poor prayers;and if she now perish,then I must pray the more continually for the good rest of her soul,and the forgiveness of her enemies and false friends.""Sure,she hath already the certain promise of Paradise,and even in this world her life is with the Saints.And if men slay her body,we need her prayers more than she needs ours."But Elliot said no word,being very wilful.

"Consider what manner of friend the Maid is,"I said,"who desires nothing but joy and happy life to all whom she loves,as she loves you.Verily,I am right well assured that,could she see us in this hour,she would bid you be happy with me,and not choose penance for love of her.""If she herself bids me do as you desire,"said Elliot at last,"then I would not be disobedient to that Daughter of God."Here I took some comfort,for now a thought came into my mind.

"But,"said Elliot,"as we read of the rich man and Lazarus,between her and us is a great gulf fixed,and none may come from her to us,or from us to her.""Elliot!"I said,"if either the Maid be delivered,or if she sends you sure and certain tidings under her own hand that she wills you to put off this humour,will you then be persuaded,and make no more delay!""Indeed,if either of these miracles befall,or both,right gladly will I obey both you and her.But now her Saints,methinks,have left her,wearied by the wickedness of France.""I ask no more,"I answered,"for,Elliot,either the Maid shall be free,or she shall send you this command,or you shall see my face no more."My purpose was now clear before me,even as I executed it,as shall be seen.

"Indeed,if my vow must be kept,never may I again behold you;for oh!my love,my heart would surely break in twain,being already weak with grief and fasting,and weary with prayer."Whereon she laid her kind arms about my neck,and,despite my manhood,I wept no less than she.

For Holy Writ says well,that hope deferred maketh the heart sick;and mine was sick unto death.

Of my resolve I spoke no word more to Elliot,lest her counsel should change when she knew the jeopardy whereinto I was firmly minded to go.And to my master I said no more than that I was minded to ride to the Court,and for that end I turned into money a part of my treasure,for money I should need more than arms.