yet s guilt must be established by evidence which would satisfy the people where was that evidence to be found there was only one person in the world who could furnish it � of arc herself she must condemn herself and in public � at least she must seem to do it but how was this to be managed weeks had by of arc been spent already in trying to get her to surrender � time wholly wasted what was to persuade her now torture had been threatened the fire had been threatened what was left deadly fatigue and the sight of the fire the presence of the fire that was left now that was a shrewd thought she was but a girl after all and under illness and exhaustion subject to a girl s weaknesses yes it was thought she had said herself that under the bitter pains of the rack they would be able to a false confession from her it was a hint worth remembering and it was remembered she had furnished another hint at the same time that as soon as the pains were gone she would the confession that hint was also remembered she had herself taught them what to do you see first they must wear out her strength then frighten her with the fire second while the fright was on her she must be made to sign a paper but she would demand a reading of the paper they could not venture to refuse this with the public there to hear suppose that during the reading her courage should return she would refuse to sign then very well even that difficulty could be got over they could read a short paper of no importance then slip a long and deadly one into its place and trick her into that by of arc yet there was still one other difficulty if they made her seem to that would free her from the death penalty they could keep her in a prison of the church but they could not kill her that would not answer for only her death would content the english alive she was a terror in a prison or out of it she had escaped from two already but even that difficulty could be managed would make promises to her in return she would promise to leave off the male dress he would his promises and that would so her that she would not be able to keep hers her lapse would condemn her to the stake and the stake would be ready these were the several moves there was nothing to do but to make them each in its order and the game was won one might almost name the day that the betrayed girl the most innocent creature in france and the noblest would go to her pitiful death and the time was favorable � cruelly favorable s spirit had as yet suffered no decay it was as sublime and as ever but her body s forces had been steadily wasting away in those last ten days and a strong mind needs a healthy body for its support the world knows now that s plan was as i have it to you but the world did not know it at that time there are sufficient by of tions that and all the other english chiefs except the highest one � the cardinal of � were not let into the secret also that only and on the french side knew the scheme sometimes i have doubted if even and knew the whole of it at first however if any did it was these two it is usual to let the condemned pass their last night of life in peace but this grace was denied to poor if one may credit the of the time was into her presence and in the character of priest friend and secret of france and of england he spent some hours in her to do the only right and righteous thing � submit to the church as a good christian should and that then she would straightway get out of the of the dreaded english and be transferred to the church s prison where she would be used and have women about her for he knew where to touch her he knew how odious to her was the presence of her rough and profane english guards he knew that her voices had vaguely promised something which she interpreted to be escape rescue release of some sort and the chance to burst upon france once more and complete the great work which she had been of heaven to do also there was that other thing if her failing body could be further weakened by loss of rest and sleep now her tired mind would be dazed and drowsy on th� by of arc morrow and in ill condition to stand out against threats and the sight of the stake and also be to traps and which it would be swift to detect when in its normal estate i do not need to tell you that there was no rest for me that night nor for we went to the main gate of the city before nightfall with a hope in our minds based upon that vague prophecy of s voices which seemed to promise a rescue by force at the last moment the immense news had flown swiftly far and wide that at last of arc was condemned and would be and burned alive on the morrow and so crowds of people were flowing in at the gate and other crowds were being refused admission by the these being people who brought doubtful passes or none at all we these crowds eagerly but there was nothing about them to indicate that they were our old in disguise and certainly there were no familiar faces among them and so when the gate was closed at last we turned 