"But he hath the letter vouching for her from the Captain of Vaucouleurs," exclaimed De Poulengy, with heat. "There will be delay, and yonder lies Orléans waiting the coming of the Maid; for by my faith! I do believe that she can raise the siege. Ay! and Jean here believes likewise. 'Tis our opinion that she hath been divinely commissioned so to do." "Then why fret about telling the King what ye believe?" asked Colet. "He questioned me, and I spoke freely concerning her goodness, and the safety with which we had made the journey." "You are right," uttered De Poulengy. "Why fret indeed? 'Tis only because it seems to me that were I King I would seize upon anything that held a hope for so distressed a kingdom." "'Tis what frets us all, Bertrand," said Jean de Metz. "That is, all who care for the King and France. Know you not that La Hire, the fiercest soldier of the Armagnacs, says, 'Never was a king who lost his kingdom so gay as Charles?' But lead on, Colet. 'Tis the King's command, and we must go to him. Perchance good may come from it after all." "That it may. And know for your comfort, both, that deputies from Orléans, having heard of the Maid, are here in Chinon praying that the King may not refuse the aid, but will send the Maid to them at once." "Now that is good," ejaculated Sire Bertrand. "I can go with better grace now. Come, Jean." Seldom has a king lived who deserved greater contempt than Charles Seventh. Lazy, idle, luxurious, and cowardly, he was the puppet of his worst courtiers. Most of the money that he could raise was spent in voluptuous living or given to favorites. But at that time however contemptible a king might be, his personality was important to his kingdom. So that Charles Seventh was France to his people; the image and sacred symbol of France. In his favor it may be said that he was very devout, and his piety was sincere. He was generous to others,--and to himself. He was "well languaged and full of pity for the poor." From time to time he would seem to be moved by the thought that, despite his helplessness and inability to do anything, he was still the man who ought to do all. But he was weak, a slave to his favorites, blind to their defects; ready to suffer anything from them. It was small wonder then that De Poulengy dreaded the King's advisers. He and De Metz returned soon to the inn to report to Jeanne the result of the interview.