She had gained a kingdom, yet all she asked in return was that the taxes of her poor oppressed village might be remitted. She wished for nothing for herself. Not the least of the girl's great qualities was her unselfishness. ------ [13] Dunois. [14] Noël--an exclamation of joyful acclamation. [15] M. Blaze de Bury. [16] Journal du Siège. [17] Journal du Siège. [18] "Noël"--a word of acclaim--"hurrah!" CHAPTER XXIII THE TURNING OF THE TIDE "_If France deserts her, and she fails, she is none the less inspired._" JEAN GERSON. 1429. There was feasting in Reims after the coronation. In the Archbishop's palace the King was served with the princes of the blood and the nobles. The tables stretched to the streets that the people might be served also; all Reims ate, drank, and made merry. But Jeanne, always exceedingly temperate in the matter of eating and drinking, soon slipped away from the festivities. She had other work on hand. There was a letter to be written to the Duke of Burgundy, the greatest peer of France. Philip, because of the blood feud between him and Charles, had cast his power and influence with Regent Bedford against his own countrymen. Jeanne had written to him before in June at the beginning of the march to Reims, summoning him to the crowning of the King, but had heard from neither letter nor herald. It was the maiden's belief that all Frenchmen should unite against the common enemy, laying aside private griefs that France might be served. She had no party feeling, and was possessed of a fund of common sense which made her see what a powerful ally Philip of Burgundy would be. So now she wrote again, summoning him to renounce his feud with his cousin, the King, and thus to heal the breach which had divided the realm into two great parties. "JHESUS MARIA