It was insinuated that this was an attempt to commit the deep crime of suicide to avoid falling into the hands of the English.
“Did you not say that you would rather die than be delivered into the power of the English?”
Joan answered frankly; without perceiving the trap:
“Yes; my words were, that I would rather that my soul be returned unto God than that I should fall into the hands of the English.”
It was now insinuated that when she came to, after jumping from the tower, she was angry and blasphemed the name of God; and that she did it again when she heard of the defection of the Commandant of Soissons. She was hurt and indignant at this, and said:
“It is not true. I have never cursed. It is not my custom to swear.”
11 The Court Reorganized for Assassination
A HALT was called. It was time. Cauchon was losing ground in the fight, Joan was gaining it.
There were signs that here and there in the court a judge was being softened toward Joan by her courage, her presence of mind, her fortitude, her constancy, her piety, her simplicity and candor, her manifest purity, the nobility of her character, her fine intelligence, and the good brave fight she was making, all friendless and alone, against unfair odds, and there was grave room for fear that this softening process would spread further and presently bring Cauchon’s plans in danger.