“Do you know that you are in the grace of God?”
This was an unfair question. If she replied, “yes,” she was 357 presumptuous; if “no,” she condemned herself. One of the assessors, Maître Jean Lefèvre, spoke up quickly:
“That is an unsuitable question for such a girl.”
“Hold your peace,” cried Cauchon angrily. “It will be the better for you.” And Maître Jean was silent. “Answer,” commanded the Bishop, turning sternly to Jeanne.
The assembly awaited the reply in a silence so great that a pin might have been heard to fall.
“If I am not in grace, may God bring me thither; if I am, God keep me there.”
The reply was sublime. The doctors were amazed, and murmurs were heard among them. “Jeanne, you say well,” came from several. Cauchon was plainly chagrined.
At another time she was asked if she had ever been present when English blood was shed.
“In God’s name, yes. How mildly you talk! Why did they not leave France and go back to their own country?”
Thereupon a great English lord cried out: “She is a brave girl! If only she were English!”