Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc, vol 2 | Page 7

beneficent victory that God has vouchsafed for France at
any time. I pray you question me not as to whence or how I know this thing, but be
content that it is so."
There was pleasure in every face, and conviction and high confidence. A murmur of
conversation broke out, but that was interrupted by a messenger from the outposts who
brought news--namely, that for an hour there had been stir and movement in the English
camp of a sort unusual at such a time and with a resting army, he said. Spies had been
sent under cover of the rain and darkness to inquire into it. They had just come back and
reported that large bodies of men had been dimly made out who were slipping stealthily
away in the direction of Meung.
The generals were very much surprised, as any might tell from their faces.
"It is a retreat," said Joan.
"It has that look," said D'Alen‡on.
"It certainly has," observed the Bastard and La Hire.
"It was not to be expected," said Louis de Bourbon, "but one can divine the purpose of
it."
"Yes," responded Joan. "Talbot has reflected. His rash brain has cooled. He thinks to take
the bridge of Meung and escape to the other side of the river. He knows that this leaves
his garrison of Beaugency at the mercy of fortune, to escape our hands if it can; but there
is no other course if he would avoid this battle, and that he also knows. But he shall not
get the bridge. We will see to that."
"Yes," said D'Alen&ccecil;on, "we must follow him, and take care of that matter. What
of Beaugency?"
"Leave Beaugency to me, gentle duke; I will have it in two hours, and at no cost of
blood."

"It is true, Excellency. You will but need to deliver this news there and receive the
surrender."
"Yes. And I will be with you at Meung with the dawn, fetching the Constable and his
fifteen hundred; and when Talbot knows that Beaugency has fallen it will have an effect
upon him."
"By the mass, yes!" cried La Hire. "He will join his Meung garrison to his army and
break for Paris. Then we shall have our bridge force with us again, along with our
Beaugency watchers, and be stronger for our great day's work by four-and-twenty
hundred able soldiers, as was here promised within the hour. Verily this Englishman is
doing our errands for us and saving us much blood and trouble. Orders, Excellency--give
us orders!"
"They are simple. Let the men rest three hours longer. At one o'clock the advance-guard
will march, under our command, with Pothon of Saintrailles as second; the second
division will follow at two under the Lieutenant-General. Keep well in the rear of the
enemy, and see to it that you avoid an engagement. I will ride under guard to Beaugency
and make so quick work there that Ii and the Constable of France will join you before
dawn with his men."
She kept her word. Her guard mounted and we rode off through the puttering rain, taking
with us a captured English officer to confirm Joan's news. We soon covered the journey
and summoned the castle. Richard Gu‚tin, Talbot's lieutenant, being convinced that he
and his five hundred men were left helpless, conceded that it would be useless to try to
hold out. He could not expect easy terms, yet Joan granted them nevertheless. His
garrison could keep their horses and arms, and carry away property to the value of a
silver mark per man. They could go whither they pleased, but must not take arms against
France again under ten days.
Before dawn we were with our army again, and with us the Constable and nearly all his
men, for we left only a small garrison in Beaugency castle. We heard the dull booming of
cannon to the front, and knew that Talbot was beginning his attack on the bridge. But
some time before it was yet light the sound ceased and we heard it no more.
Gu‚tin had sent a messenger through our lines under a safe-conduct given by Joan, to tell
Talbot of the surrender. Of course this poursuivant had arrived ahead of us. Talbot had
held it wisdom to turn now and retreat upon Paris. When daylight came he had
disappeared; and with him Lord Scales and the garrison of Meung.
What a harvest of English strongholds we had reaped in those three days!--strongholds
which had defied France with quite cool confidence and plenty of it until we came.


Chapter 30
The Red Field of Patay
WHEN THE morning broke at last on that forever memorable 18th of June, thee was no
enemy discoverable anywhere, as I have said. But