THE ASSESSORS [_in great commotion_] Blasphemy! blasphemy! She is possessed. She said our counsel was of the devil. And hers of God. Monstrous! The devil is in our midst, etc., etc. D’ESTIVET [_shouting above the din_] She is a relapsed heretic, obstinate, incorrigible, and altogether unworthy of the mercy we have shewn her. I call for her excommunication. THE CHAPLAIN [_to the Executioner_] Light your fire, man. To the stake with her. _The Executioner and his assistants hurry out through the courtyard._ LADVENU. You wicked girl: if your counsel were of God would He not deliver you? JOAN. His ways are not your ways. He wills that I go through the fire to His bosom; for I am His child, and you are not fit that I should live among you. That is my last word to you. _The soldiers seize her._ CAUCHON [_rising_] Not yet. _They wait. There is a dead silence. Cauchon turns to the Inquisitor with an inquiring look. The Inquisitor nods affirmatively. They rise solemnly, and intone the sentence antiphonally._ CAUCHON. We decree that thou art a relapsed heretic. THE INQUISITOR. Cast out from the unity of the Church. CAUCHON. Sundered from her body. THE INQUISITOR. Infected with the leprosy of heresy. CAUCHON. A member of Satan. THE INQUISITOR. We declare that thou must be excommunicate. CAUCHON. And now we do cast thee out, segregate thee, and abandon thee to the secular power. THE INQUISITOR. Admonishing the same secular power that it moderate its judgment of thee in respect of death and division of the limbs. [_He resumes his seat_]. CAUCHON. And if any true sign of penitence appear in thee, to permit our Brother Martin to administer to thee the sacrament of penance. THE CHAPLAIN. Into the fire with the witch [_he rushes at her, and helps the soldiers to push her out_]. _Joan is taken away through the courtyard. The assessors rise in disorder, and follow the soldiers, except Ladvenu, who has hidden his face in his hands._ CAUCHON [_rising again in the act of sitting down_] No, no; this is irregular. The representative of the secular arm should be here to receive her from us. THE INQUISITOR [_also on his feet again_] That man is an incorrigible fool. CAUCHON. Brother Martin: see that everything is done in order. LADVENU. My place is at her side, my lord. You must exercise your own authority. [_He hurries out_]. CAUCHON. These English are impossible: they will thrust her straight into the fire. Look! _He points to the courtyard, in which the glow and flicker of fire can now be seen reddening the May daylight. Only the Bishop and the Inquisitor are left in the Court._ CAUCHON [_turning to go_] We must stop that. THE INQUISITOR [_calmly_] Yes; but not too fast, my lord. CAUCHON [_halting_] But there is not a moment to lose.