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The Dream by Émile Zola
page 73 of 291 (25%)
Then in the middle the combat takes place, and the saint, on horseback,
cuts the beast through and through. This is explained by the following
words: "George wielded so well his lance that he wounded the enemy and
threw him upon the earth." At last, at the top, the Princess is seen
leading back into the city the conquered dragon: "George said, 'Tie your
scarf around his neck, and do not be afraid of anything, oh beautiful
maiden, for when you have done so he will follow you like a well-trained
dog.'"

When the window was new it must have been surmounted in the middle of
the arch by an ornamental design. But later, when the chapel belonged to
the Hautecoeurs, they replaced the original work by their family coat
of arms. And that was why, in the obscure nights, armorial bearings of
a more recent date shown out above the painted legend. They were the
old family arms of Hautecoeur, quartered with the well-known shield of
Jerusalem; the latter being argent, a cross potencee, or, between four
crosselettes of the same; and those of the family, azure, a castle, or,
on it a shield, sable, charged with a human heart, argent, the whole
between three fleurs-de-lys, or; the shield was supported on the dexter
and sinister sides by two wyverns, or; and surmounted by the silver
helmet with its blue feathers, embossed in gold, placed frontwise, and
closed by eleven bars, which belongs only to Dukes, Marshals of France,
titled Lords and heads of Sovereign Corporations. And for motto were
these words: "_Si Dieu volt, ie vueil_."

Little by little, from having seen him piercing the monster with
his lance, whilst the king's daughter raised her clasped hands in
supplication, Angelique became enamoured of Saint George. He was her
hero. At the distance where she was she could not well distinguish the
figures, and she looked at them as if in the aggrandisement of a dream;
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