But, side by side with these friends, she had an adversary in the king’s favorite, George de la Tremoille, an ambitious courtier, jealous of any one who seemed within the range of the king’s favor, and opposed to a vigorous prosecution of the war, since it hampered him in the policy he wished to keep up towards the Duke of Burgundy.  To the ill will of La Tremoille was added that of the majority of courtiers enlisted in the following of the powerful favorite, and that of warriors irritated at the importance acquired at their expense by a rustic and fantastic little adventuress.  Here was the source of the enmities and intrigues which stood in the way of all Joan’s demands, rendered her successes more tardy, difficult, and incomplete, and were one day to cost her more dearly still.

At the end of about five weeks the expedition was in readiness.  It was a heavy convoy of revictualment, protected by a body of ten or twelve thousand men, commanded by Marshal de Boussac, and numbering amongst them Xaintrailles and La Hire.  The march began on the 27th of April, 1429.  Joan had caused the removal of all women of bad character, and had recommended her comrades to confess.  She took the communion in the open air, before their eyes; and a company of priests, headed by her chaplain, Pasquerel, led the way whilst chanting sacred hymns.  Great was the surprise amongst the men-at-arms, many had words of mockery on their lips.  It was the time when La Hire used to say, “If God were a soldier, He would turn robber.”  Nevertheless, respect got the better of habit; the most honorable were really touched; the coarsest considered themselves bound to show restraint.  On the 29th of April they arrived before Orleans.  But, in consequence of the road they had followed, the Loire was between the army and the town; the expeditionary corps had to be split in two; the troops were obliged to go and feel for the bridge of Blois in order to ’cross the river; and Joan was vexed and surprised.  Dunois, arrived from Orleans in a little boat, urged her to enter the town that same evening.  “Are you the bastard of Orleans?” asked she, when he accosted her.  “Yes; and I am rejoiced at your coming.”  “Was it you who gave counsel for making me come hither by this side of the river, and not the direct way, over yonder where Talbot and the English were?” “Yes; such was the opinion of the wisest captains.”  “In the name of God, the counsel of my Lord is wiser than yours; you thought to deceive me, and you have deceived yourselves, for I am bringing you the best succor that ever had knight, or town, or city, and that is the good will of God, and succor from the King of Heaven; not assuredly for love of me, it is from God only that it proceeds.”  It was a great trial for Joan to separate from her comrades, “so well prepared, penitent, and well disposed; in their company,” said she, “I should not fear the whole power of the English.”  She was afraid that disorder might set in amongst