Bishop Cauchon (to the registrars)—"Enter that answer without omitting a syllable."
A Registrar—"Yes, monseigneur."
Canon Loyseleur, whose face is carefully concealed under his hood, and who for greater security holds a handkerchief to the lower part of his countenance, rises and whispers in the ear of the Bishop; the latter strikes his forehead as if reminded by his accomplice that he had overlooked a matter of grave importance; the canon returns to his seat in the rear.
Bishop Cauchon—"Joan, when, after you were captured at Compiegne, you were taken to the Castle of Beaurevoir, you threw yourself out of one of the lower towers, did you not?"
Joan Darc—"It is true."
Bishop Cauchon—"What was the reason of your action?"
Joan Darc—"I heard it said in my prison that I had been sold to the English. I preferred the risk of killing myself to falling into their hands. I endeavored to escape by jumping down from the tower."
The Inquisitor—"Did you act by the advice of your voices?"
Joan Darc—"No. They advised me to the contrary, saying: 'Take courage; God will come to your help; it is cowardly to flee danger.' But my fear of the English was stronger than the advice of my saints."
A Judge—"When you jumped out of the tower, had you the intention of killing yourself?"