It is as if the circumstances were specially made for it. The spirits of our army are exalted with victory, those of the English forces depressed by defeat. Delay will change this. Seeing us hesitate to follow up our advantage, our men will wonder, doubt, lose confidence, and the English will wonder, gather courage, and be bold again. Now is the time--pritheee let us march!"
The King shook his head, and La Tremouille, being asked for an opinion, eagerly furnished it:
"Sire, all prudence is against it. Think of the English strongholds along the Loire; think of those that lie between us and Rheims!"
He was going on, but Joan cut him short, and said, turning to him:
"If we wait, they will all be strengthened, reinforced. Will that advantage us?"
"Why--no."
"Then what is your suggestion?--what is it that you would propose to do?"
"My judgment is to wait."
"Wait for what?"
The minister was obliged to hesitate, for he knew of no explanation that would sound well. Moreover, he was not used to being catechized in this fashion, with the eyes of a crowd of people on him, so he was irritated, and said:
"Matters of state are not proper matters for public discussion."
Joan said placidly:
"I have to beg your pardon. My trespass came of ignorance. I did not know that matters connected with your department of the government were matters of state."
The minister lifted his brows in amused surprise, and said, with a touch of sarcasm:
"I am the King's chief minister, and yet you had the impression that matters connected with my department are not matters of state? Pray, how is that?"
Joan replied, indifferently:
"Because there is no state."
"No state!"
"No, sir, there is no state, and no use for a minister. France is shrunk to a couple of acres of ground; a sheriff's constable could take care of it; its affairs are not matters of state. The term is too large."
The King did not blush, but burst into a hearty, careless laugh, and the court laughed too, but prudently turned its head and did it silently. La Tremouille was angry, and opened his mouth to speak, but the King put up his hand, and said:
"There--I take her under the royal protection. She has spoken the truth, the ungilded truth--how seldom I hear it! With all this tinsel on me and all this tinsel about me, I am but a sheriff after all--a poor shabby two-acre sheriff--and you are but a constable," and he laughed his cordial laugh again. "Joan, my frank, honest General, will you name your reward? I would ennoble you. You shall quarter the crown and the lilies of France for blazon, and with them your victorious sword to defend them--speak the word."
It made an eager buzz of surprise and envy in the assemblage, but Joan shook her head and said:
"Ah, I cannot, dear and noble Dauphin. To be allowed to work for France, to spend one's self for France, is itself so supreme a reward that nothing can add to it--nothing. Give me the one reward I ask, the dearest of all rewards, the highest in your gift--march with me to Rheims and receive your crown. I will beg it on my knees."
But the King put his hand on her arm, and there was a really brave awakening in his voice and a manly fire in his eye when he said:
"No, sit. You have conquered me--it shall be as you--"
But a warning sign from his minister halted him, and he added, to the relief of the court:
"Well, well, we will think of it, we will think it over and see. Does that content you, impulsive little soldier?"
The first part of the speech sent a glow of delight to Joan's face, but the end of it quenched it and she looked sad, and the tears gathered in her eyes. After a moment she spoke out with what seemed a sort of terrified impulse, and said:
"Oh, use me; I beseech you, use me--there is but little time!"
"But little time?"
"Only a year--I shall last only a year."
"Why, child, there are fifty good years in that compact little body yet."
"Oh, you err, indeed you do. In one little year the end will come. Ah, the time is so short, so short; the moments are flying, and so much to be done.