Poor Joan, bewildered at this strange way of following up a great victory, followed Charles to Loches, and with Dunois at her side sought the Dauphin in his apartments, where he was talking with his confessor and two other members of his council, Robert le Maçon and Christopher of Harcourt. Entering the room, with a modest but determined mien she knelt before Charles and clasped his knees. "Noble Dauphin," she said, "do not hold so many and such lengthy councils, but come at once to Rheims and take the crown that is yours!" Upon this, Harcourt asked her if this advice came from her "_conseil_," as she called her heavenly advisers. "Yes!" she replied. "They greatly insist thereupon." "Will you not tell us, in the presence of the king, what is the nature and manner of this counsel that you receive?" Joan blushed; it was great pain to her to unveil things so sacred; but she answered bravely: "I understand well enough what it is you wish to know, and I will tell you freely. "When men do not believe in those things which come to me from God, it grieves me sore. Then I go apart and pray, making my plaint to my Lord for that they are so hard of belief: and after I have prayed I hear a Voice saying to me, 'Child of God, go, go, go! I will be thy helper; go![48] When I hear that Voice I am joyful, and wish it might always be thus with me." While she spoke, she raised her eyes to heaven, and seemed indeed in an ecstasy of joy. Charles listened, was impressed, and doubtless went to tell La Trémoïlle about it. But there were others, who cared nothing for La Trémoïlle and much for the Maid. The young Duke of Alençon was, we know, her sworn brother-in-arms. He had no mind to let the glory of Orleans evaporate in trailing mists of negotiation and dispute. He got together a little army, and demanded the presence and help of the Maid in a campaign against the English. La Trémoïlle could not well prevent this; he could only so manage that a whole month was wasted before permission was given. This was a hard month for the Maid. To her eyes it was clear as the sun in heaven that "when once the Dauphin was crowned and consecrated, the power of his adversaries would continually dwindle." "All," says Dunois, "came to share her opinion!" By which he meant all true and knightly persons like himself. Finally the matter was decided. A rendezvous was appointed at Selles, not far from Loches; thither, in the first days of June, the Maid repaired, and there gathered about her all the chivalry of France, eager to follow her to fresh conquests.