But, my friends, understand this, and let the men likewise understand it.
There shall be no mockery of fighting.

It shall be true and desperate warfare.

Let the Generals decree what they will, the Maid will lead her soldiers to victory! Tomorrow Les Augustins shall be ours; upon the next day Les Tourelles shall fall--" she paused suddenly and turned towards Bertrand.
"What day will that be--the day after to-morrow ?" "The seventh day of May," he answered at once.
"Ah!" she said, "then it will be on that day--the day which shall see Orleans relieved--the power of the English broken." She spoke dreamily, and only Madame Boucher, who sat in the shadows with her child upon her lap, ventured to ask of her: "What will be on that day, gentle Jeanne ?" "That I shall be wounded," she answered quietly.
"Did I not tell you long since," turning to Bertrand and me, "that I should not come unscathed through the assault; but that on a certain day I should receive a wound ?" I pulled out my tablets, upon which I often recorded the sayings of the Maid, and sure enough there it was written down as she said.

We felt a great burning revolt at the thought of any hurt befalling her, and somebody spoke vehemently, saying that the holy Saints would surely protect her from harm.

But she lifted her hand with her gentle authority of gesture, and spoke: "Nay, my kind friends, but thus it must needs be; nor would I have it otherwise.