"In that case, madame, the request we have to make will doubtless be but ill received, and we ask your permission to withdraw without stating it." "What, Messire d'Estourville! am I not at your service at all times, and whatever may happen? Speak! speak! or I shall lose my temper with so distrustful a friend." "Very well, madame, this is what we have to say. I had believed that I might dispose of this grant of lodgings which I owe to your munificence in favor of the Vicomte de Marmagne, and naturally we cast our eyes upon the Hôtel de Nesle, which has fallen into such bad hands." "Aha!" said the duchess. "You interest me immensely." "The viscount, madame, accepted my suggestion in the first place with the utmost enthusiasm; but now, upon reflection, he hesitates, and thinks with terror of the redoubtable Benvenuto." "Pardon me, my good friend," the viscount interposed,--"pardon me, you explain the matter very ill. I am not afraid of Benvenuto, but of the anger of the king. I have no fear of being killed by the Italian clown, to use madame's words,--no, no! What I fear, so to speak, is that I may kill him, and that some ill may come to me for having deprived our lord and master of a servitor by whom he seems to set great store." "I ventured to hope, madame, that, in case of need, your protection would not fail him." "It has never yet failed my friends," said the duchess; "and, furthermore, have you not on your side a better friend than I,--justice? Are you not acting in accordance with the king's will?" "His Majesty," Marmagne replied, "did not himself designate the Hôtel de Nesle as the abode of any other than Benvenuto, and our choice, under those circumstances, would seem very much like revenge,--there's no denying it. And then, suppose that I kill this Cellini, as I can promise to do, for I shall have two sure men with me?" "Oh! mon Dieu!" exclaimed the duchess, showing her white teeth as she smiled, "the king's protection extends to living men, but I fancy that he takes but little thought to avenge the dead, and when his admiration for art is deprived of this particular subject, he will remember naught save his affection for me, I trust. The man insulted me publicly and outrageously, Marmagne! do you forget it?" "But, madame," rejoined the prudent viscount, "be very sure that you know all you will have to defend." "Oh, you are perfectly clear, viscount." "Nay, madame, if you will permit me, I do not wish to leave you in ignorance upon any point. It may be that force will fail to effect our purpose with this devil of a man. In that event, we shall have recourse to stratagem; if he escapes my bravos in his Hôtel in broad daylight, they will meet him again some night by accident in a lonely street, and--they have daggers, madame, as well as swords." "I understand," said the duchess, nor did she turn a shade paler while listening to this little scheme of assassination. "Well, madame?"