"Yes, with the pleasure of God."
"Have you any idea what the siege of a town means, and in what it consists?"
"Oh, sir! It consists of besieged and besiegers. That is very plain."
"But the besieged must attempt sallies against the enemy who are entrenched at their gates."
"Sir, we are here four in this hall. If we were locked up in here, and we were determined to go out or die, would we not sally forth even if there were ten men at the door?"
"How?"
"Fighting bravely—God will do the rest![37] The besieged will sally forth."
"At a siege, my daughter, sallies are not all there is of it. The besiegers surround the town with numerous redoubts or bastilles, furnished with machines for darting bolts and artillery pieces for bombarding, and all are defended with deep moats. How will you take possession of such formidable entrenchments?"
"I shall be the first to descend into the moats and the first to climb the ladders, while crying to the armed men: 'Follow me! Let us bravely enter the place! The Lord is with us!'"[38]
The two knights looked at each other amazed at Joan's answers. John of Novelpont especially experienced a rising sensation that verged on admiration for the beautiful girl of so naïve a valor. Denis Laxart was thinking apart: