\"Nay，\"saidshe，checkingherhorsetoawalk，andsmilingonmeintheduskwithherkindeyes。\"Thentellmehowyouorderitinyourcountry。”
\"Madame，\"Isaid，\"itwaswithalittleforce，andlightlymoving，thatMessireThomasRandolphscaledtheCastlerockandtookEdinburghCastleoutofthehandsoftheEnglish，akeepsostrong，andsetonacliffsoperilous，thatnomanmightdeemtowinitbysuddenonfall。AndinlikemannerthegoodMessireJamesDouglastookhisowncastle，morethanonceortwice，bycraftystratagemofwar，sothattheEnglishnameditCastlePerilous。Butineverysuchonfallfewmenfoughtforus，ofsuchascouldmovesecretlyandswiftly，notwithlongtrainsofwaggonsthatcoveraleagueofroad，andbytheirnoiseandnumbergivewarningtoanenemy。”
\"Mymindisyours，\"shesaid，withasigh，\"andsoIwouldhavemadethisonslaught。ButIsubmittedmetothewillofthecaptains。”
Throughthenightwepushedourwayslowly，forinsuchamarchnonemaygoswifterthantheslowest，namely，thecartsandthewaggons。
ThusitbefellthattheMaidandthecaptainswereinmorethoughtsthanonetodrawbacktoCompiegne，forthenightwasclear，andthedawnwouldbebright。And，indeed，afterstumblingandwanderinglong，anddoubtingoftheway，wedid，atlast，seethechurchtowersandwallsofPontl\'Evequestandoutagainsttheclearskyofmorning，alightmistgirdlingthebasementofthewalls。Hadwebeenasmallerandswiftercompany，weshouldhavearrivedanhourbeforethefirstgreynessshowstheshapesofthings。Butnow，alas!wenosoonersawthetownthanweheardthebellsandtrumpetscallingthetownsfolkandmen-at-armstobeontheirward。Thegreatgunsofthekeeproaredatussosoonaswewereinreachofshot；nevertheless，PothonandtheMaidsetcompaniestocarrythedoubleladders，forthewallswerehigh，andothersweretoldofftobringupthefascines，andso，leavingourmainbattletowaitoutofshot，andcomeonastheywereneeded，theMaidandPothonranupthefirstrampart，shewavingherstandardandcryingthatallwasours。Asweran，forImustneedsbebyherside，thedinofbellsandgunswasworsethanIhadheardatOrleans，andonthetopofthechurchtowersweremen-at-armswavingflags，asifforasignal。