第40章 THE CORONATION.JULY 17,1429.(5)

In the meantime the secret negotiations，which were always being carried on under the surface，had come to this point，that Charles had made a private treaty with Philip of Burgundy by which that prince pledged himself to give up Paris into the King's hands within fifteen days.This agreement furnished a sufficient pretext for the delay in marching against Paris，delay which was Charles's invariable method，and which but for Jeanne's hardihood and determination，had all but crushed the expedition to Rheims itself.It was never with any will of his or of his adviser，La Tremouille，that any stronghold was assailed.He would fain have passed by Troyes，as the reader will remember，he would fain have delayed going to Rheims；in each case he had been forced to move by the impetuosity of the Maid.But a treaty which touched the honour of the King was a different matter.Philip of Burgundy，with whom it was made，seems to have held the key of the position.He was called to Paris by Bedford on one side to defend the city against its lawful King；he had pledged himself on the other to Charles to give it up.He had in his hands，though it is uncertain whether he ever read it，that missive of the sorceress，the letter of Jeanne which I have quoted，calling upon him on the part of God to make peace.What was he to do？There were reasons drawing him to both sides.He was the enemy of Charles on account of the murder of his father，and therefore had every interest in keeping Paris from him；he was angry with the English on account of the marriage of the Duke of Gloucester with Jacqueline of Brabant，which interfered with his own rights and safety in Flanders，and therefore might have served himself by giving up the capital to the King.As for the appeal of Jeanne，what was the letter of that mad creature to a prince and statesman？

The progress of affairs was arrested by this double problem.Jeanne had been the prominent，the only important figure in the history of France for some months past.Now that shining figure was jostled aside，and the ordinary laws of life，with all the counter changes of negotiation，the ineffectual comings and goings，the meaner half-seen persons，the fierce contending personal interests--in which there was no love of either God or man，or any elevated notion of patriotism--came again into play.

Jeanne would seem to have already foreseen and felt this change even before she left Rheims；there is a new tone of sadness in some of her recorded words；or if not of sadness，at least of consciousness that an end was approaching to all these triumphs and splendours.The following tale is told in various different versions，as occurring with different people；but the account I give is taken from the lips of Dunois himself，a very competent witness.As the King，after his coronation，wended his way through the country，receiving submission and joyous welcome from every village and little town，it happened that while passing through the town of La Ferté，Jeanne rode between the Archbishop of Rheims and Dunois.The Archbishop had never been friendly to the Maid，and now it was clear，watched her with that half satirical，half amused look of the wise man，curious and cynical in presence of the incomprehensible，observing her ways and very ready to catch her tripping and to entangle her if possible in her own words.

The people thronged the way，full of enthusiasm，acclaiming the King and shouting their joyful exclamations of "No？l！"though it does not appear that any part of their devotion was addressed to Jeanne herself."Oh，the good people，"she cried with tears in her eyes，"how joyful they are to see their noble King！And how happy should I be to end my days and be buried here among them！"The priest unmoved by such an exclamation from so young a mouth attempted instantly，like the Jewish doctors with our Lord，to catch her in her words and draw from her some expression that might be used against her."Jeanne，"he said，"in what place do you expect to die？"It was a direct challenge to the messenger of Heaven to take upon herself the gift of prophecy.But Jeanne in her simplicity shattered the snare which probably she did not even perceive："When it pleases God，"she said."I know neither the place nor the time."It was enough，however，that she should think of death and of the sweetness of it，after her work accomplished，in the very moment of her height of triumph--to show something of a new leaven working in her virgin soul.

One characteristic reward，however，Jeanne did receive.Her father and uncle were lodged at the public cost as benefactors of the kingdom，as may still be seen by the inion on the old inn in the great Place at Rheims；and when Jacques d'Arc left the city he carried with him a patent--better than one of nobility which，however，came to the family later--of exemption for the villages of Domremy and Greux of all taxes and tributes；"an exemption maintained and confirmed up to the Revolution，in favour of the said Maid，native of that parish，in which are her relations.""In the register of the Exchequer，"says M.

Blaze de Bury，"at the name of the parish of Greux and Domremy，the place for the receipt is blank，with these words as explanation：/àcause de la Pucelle/，on account of the Maid."There could not have been a more delightful reward or one more after her own heart.It would be a graceful act of the France of to-day，which has so warmly revived the name and image of her maiden deliverer，to renew so touching a distinction to her native place.

We are told that Jeanne parted with her father and uncle with tears，longing that she might return with them and go back to her mother who would rejoice to see her again.This was no doubt quite true，though it might be equally true that she could not have gone back.Did not the father return，a little sullen，grasping the present he had himself received，not sure still that it was not disreputable to have a daughter who wore coat armour and rode by the side of the King，a position certainly not proper for maidens of humble birth？The dazzled peasants turned their backs upon her while she was thus at the height of glory，and never，so far as appears，saw her face again.