His face flushed a dull crimson with a sudden, unexpected shame.

To do him justice be it said, that (as we later heard) he had been against this deception after having seen the Maid; but there were now many notable generals and marshals and officers with the army, all of whom were resolved upon this course of action, which had been agreed upon beforehand with Dunois, and they had overborne his objections, which were something faint-hearted perhaps, for with his love and admiration for the Maid, he trembled, as he now explained to her, to lead her by so perilous a route, and declared that she could well be conducted into the city through the Burgundy gate, by water, without striking a blow, instead of having to fight her way in past the English bastions.
"I thank you for your care for me, my friend," she answered, "but it were better to have obeyed my voice.

The English arrows could not have touched me.

We should have entered unopposed.

Now much precious time must needs be lost, for how can this great army be transported across yonder river ?--and the bridge, even if we could dislodge the English from the tower of Les Tourelles, is broken down and useless." Indeed it seemed plain to all that the Generals had made a great blunder; for though we marched on to Checy, where Dunois met us, and whence some of the provisions brought for the starving city could be dispatched in the boats assembled there, it was plain that there was no transport sufficient for the bulk of the army; and the Maid, as she and Dunois stood face to face, at last regarded him with a look of grave and searching scrutiny.
"Are you he whom men call the Bastard of Orleans ?" "Lady, I am; and I come to welcome you with gladness, for we are sore beset by our foes; yet all within the city are taking heart of grace, believing that a Deliverer from Heaven has been sent to them." "They think well," answered the Maid, "and right glad am I to come.
But wherefore have I been led hither by this bank, instead of the one upon which Talbot and his English lie ?" "Lady, the wisest of our leaders held that this would be the safest way." "The counsel of God and our Lord is more sure and more powerful than that of generals and soldiers," she answered gravely.