"There is no passage here. It is forbidden to leave the town! Such are our orders!"
"The town gates are opened or closed by orders of the councilmen. I am a councilman. You must obey."
"I have my orders," replied the mercenary drawing his sword; "back, or I cut you to pieces!"
"You miserable drunken fellow! Do you dare to threaten a magistrate!"
"I only know my captain, and since you are trying to pass despite my orders, here is for you!" saying which he made a thrust at the councilman. The sword glided over the magistrate's armor, and the soldier cried out: "This way, my men!"
About twenty soldiers rushed to the spot from under the gate. The squad of drunken men had surrounded and were hooting at and threatening the magistrate when Joan, her equerry Daulon, her page, and the other councilmen who, together with her, formed the head of the column, reached the scene of the wrangle. At the same moment the Sire of Gaucourt appeared. He was in a towering rage, made a sign to his soldiers to draw back, and himself stepped towards the heroine whom he insolently addressed:
"Joan, the council of war pronounced itself yesterday against your proposed plan for to-day. You shall not leave the town—"[89]
"You are a bad man!" cried the Maid indignantly. "I shall pass whether you will it or not. The men of Orleans will follow me—and we shall vanquish the English again as we have done before."[90]
The Maid's defiant answer to the impudent and imprudent words of the royal captain were heard by Master John and his cannoniers, and were repeated down the column from rank to rank of the militiamen, producing such exasperation against Gaucourt that from all parts the furious cries were heard:
"Death to the traitor! Cut the captain to pieces!"