_Rouen, 30th May 1431. A great stone hall in the castle, arranged for a trial-at-law, but not a trial-by-jury, the court being the Bishop’s court with the Inquisition participating: hence there are two raised chairs side by side for the Bishop and the Inquisitor as judges. Rows of chairs radiating from them at an obtuse angle are for the canons, the doctors of law and theology, and the Dominican monks, who act as assessors. In the angle is a table for the scribes, with stools. There is also a heavy rough wooden stool for the prisoner. All these are at the inner end of the hall. The further end is open to the courtyard through a row of arches. The court is shielded from the weather by screens and curtains._ _Looking down the great hall from the middle of the inner end, the judicial chairs and scribes’ table are to the right. The prisoner’s stool is to the left. There are arched doors right and left. It is a fine sunshiny May morning._ _Warwick comes in through the arched doorway on the judges’ side, followed by his page._ THE PAGE [_pertly_] I suppose your lordship is aware that we have no business here. This is an ecclesiastical court; and we are only the secular arm. WARWICK. I am aware of that fact. Will it please your impudence to find the Bishop of Beauvais for me, and give him a hint that he can have a word with me here before the trial, if he wishes? THE PAGE [_going_] Yes, my lord. WARWICK. And mind you behave yourself. Do not address him as Pious Peter. THE PAGE. No, my lord. I shall be kind to him, because, when The Maid is brought in, Pious Peter will have to pick a peck of pickled pepper. _Cauchon enters through the same door with a Dominican monk and a canon, the latter carrying a brief._ THE PAGE. The Right Reverend his lordship the Bishop of Beauvais. And two other reverend gentlemen. WARWICK. Get out; and see that we are not interrupted. THE PAGE. Right, my lord [_he vanishes airily_]. CAUCHON. I wish your lordship good-morrow. WARWICK. Good-morrow to your lordship. Have I had the pleasure of meeting your friends before? I think not. CAUCHON [_introducing the monk, who is on his right_] This, my lord, is Brother John Lemaître, of the order of St Dominic. He is acting as deputy for the Chief Inquisitor into the evil of heresy in France. Brother John: the Earl of Warwick. WARWICK. Your Reverence is most welcome. We have no Inquisitor in England, unfortunately; though we miss him greatly, especially on occasions like the present. _The Inquisitor smiles patiently, and bows. He is a mild elderly gentleman, but has evident reserves of authority and firmness._ CAUCHON [_introducing the Canon, who is on his left_] This gentleman is Canon John D’Estivet, of the Chapter of Bayeux. He is acting as Promoter. WARWICK. Promoter? CAUCHON. Prosecutor, you would call him in civil law. WARWICK. Ah! prosecutor. Quite, quite. I am very glad to make your acquaintance, Canon D’Estivet.