The Executioner's Knife; Or, Joan of ArcSue, Eugène
General
The Executioner's Knife; Or, Joan of Arc
Sue, Eugène
Biographical fiction; Christian fiction; Christian women saints -- Fiction; Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431 -- Fiction
JOAN DARC--"Sir, I have in that little trunk some linen and other
clothes. Please order your men out for a few minutes in order that I may
dress myself."
THE CAPTAIN (bursting out laughing)--"By the devil, your patron! If you
want to change your clothes, change them before us, and instead of a few
minutes, I shall let you have all the time that you may want for your
toilet. I would even help you, if you wish it, my pretty witch!"
JOAN DARC (blushing with confusion, and with a firm voice)--"Let us be
gone to the tribunal. May God help me. You are truly severe in refusing
so slight a favor to a prisoner."
CHAPTER III.
THE INQUISITION.
The ecclesiastical tribunal before which Joan Darc is to appear is
assembled in the ancient chapel of the old Castle of Rouen. The vaults
overhead, the walls, the pillars, are blackened with age. It is eight in
the morning. The pale light of this winter morn, chilly and foggy,
penetrates to the vast nave through a single ogive window, cut into the
thick wall behind the platform where the clerical judges are seated
under the presidency of Bishop Peter Cauchon. To the left of the
tribunal is a table at which the registrars are placed. Their duty is to
keep the minutes of the questions and answers. Facing this table is the
seat of Peter of Estivet, the institutor of the process. Nothing could
be more sinister than the aspect of these men. In order to keep out the
cold, they are clad in long furred robes with hoods down and almost
completely covering their faces. Their backs are turned to the solitary
window from which the only light, and that a weak one, enters the place.
Thus they are wholly in the shade. A slight reflection of greyish light
fringes the top of their black hoods and glides over their shoulders.
The judges have numerous substitutes to take their places when needed.
The priests of the University of Paris are partly reserved for the other
sessions. Here are the names of the infamous priests present at this
first session. Their names should be inscribed in letters of blood and
consigned to eternal execration:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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