Jean de Maurienne. He was a sceptic;
he believed in Jeanne, but not in the legends about her.
"I tell you," said he eagerly, "she was one of the greatest among
women. But all that about her 'voices' was illusion. The priests
suggested it. She had hallucinations. Remember her age when they
began--just thirteen. She was clever and strong; doubtless she was
pretty; certainly she was very courageous. She was only a girl.
But she had a big, brave idea which possessed her--the liberation
of her country. Pure? Yes. I am sure she was virtuous. Otherwise
the troops would not have followed and obeyed her as they did.
Soldiers are very quick about those things. They recognize and respect
an honest woman. Several men were in love with her, I think. But
she was _une nature froide._ The only thing that moved her
was her big, brave idea--to save France. The Maid was a mother, but
not of a mortal child. Her offspring was the patriotism of France."
The other captain was a man of middle age, from Lyons, the son of
an architect. He was tall and pale and his large brown eyes had
the tranquillity of a devout faith in them.
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