"I do not know. I leave that to their consciences. But if they do not believe it, I am none the less sent by Him." "Do you think them right in believing it?" "If they believe that I am sent by God, they are not deceived." "Did you understand the feelings of those who kissed your feet, your hands and your garments?" "Many were glad to see me. I let them kiss my hands as little as possible; but the poor people came to me gladly, because I did them no unkindness, but helped them as much as I could." "Did not the women touch their rings with the ring you wore?" "Many women touched my hands and my rings, but I do not know why they did so." * * * * * For more than three months her trial went on. But her fate was settled now. The Inquisition had no pardon for her. The judges left her, a few daring to be sorry for the brave creature, but most of them openly and indecently glad. In the courtyard they found a number of English waiting for news, among them the Earl of Warwick. "Farewell, farewell!" cried the bishop, as he passed him; "be of good cheer--it is done!" Her guilt was proved; let her be given over to the secular power; but first let her be charitably exhorted for her soul's welfare, and warned that she had nothing more to hope for in this world. The bishop ordered a citation to be drawn up, summoning Joan to appear next morning in the Old Market Place of Rouen, to receive her final sentence. She did not hear her doom that night (May 30, 1431), but the grave faces and grave words of the monks showed her the dreadful reality, and for a little while youth and womanhood and human weakness had their own way with her. She wept piteously. "Alas," she cried, "will they treat me so horribly and cruelly? Must my body be consumed to-day and turned to ashes? Ah! I would sooner seven times be beheaded than be burnt! Oh, I appeal to God, the great Judge, against the wrong and injustice done to me!" While she was thus lamenting Cauchon came in, with Pierre Maurice, and two or three others. Seeing him, she cried: "Bishop, I die by you!" Maurice looked kindly at her as he went, and she said to him: "Master Pierre, where shall I be to-night?" "Have you not a good hope in God?" he asked. "Ah, yes, and by God's grace, I shall be in Paradise." She received the sacrament with tears, and with deep penitence and devotion. Thenceforth her faith was unshaken, and she failed no more.