"I begin to understand, Sire, and I thank you again," said Cellini. "But pardon me; as I am already at heart your Majesty's subject, of what use are these letters?" "Of what use are the letters?" rejoined François, still in the best of humor; "why they are of this use, Benvenuto, that now that you are a Frenchman, I can make you Seigneur du Grand-Nesle, which was not possible before. Messire Le Maçon, you will add to the letters of naturalization the definitive deed of the château. Do you understand now, Benvenuto, of what use the letters of naturalization are?" "Yes, Sire, and I thank you a thousand times. One would say that our hearts understood each other without words, for this favor which you bestow upon me to-day is a step toward a very, very great favor which I shall perhaps dare to ask at your hands some day, and is, so to say, a part of it." "You know what I promised you, Benvenuto. Bring me my Jupiter, and ask what you will." "Yes, your Majesty has a good memory, and I hope your word will prove to be as good. Yes, your Majesty, you have it in your power to gratify a wish, upon which my life in a measure depends, and you have already, by a sublime instinct worthy of a king, made its gratification more easy." "It shall be done, my eminent artist, according to your wish; but, meanwhile, allow us to see what you have in your hands." "It is a silver salt dish, Sire, to go with the ewer and the basin." "Show it me quickly, Benvenuto." The king scrutinized, carefully and silently as always, the marvellous piece of work which Cellini handed him. "What a blunder!" he said at last; "what a paradox!" "What! Sire," cried Benvenuto, disappointed beyond measure, "your Majesty is not pleased with it?" "Certainly not, monsieur. Why, you spoil a lovely idea by executing it in silver! it must be done in gold, Cellini. I am very sorry for you, but you must begin again." "Alas! Sire," said Benvenuto sadly, "be not so ambitious for my poor works. The richness of the material will destroy these treasures of my thought, I greatly fear. More lasting glory is to be attained by working in clay than in gold, Sire, and the names of us goldsmiths survive us but a little while. Necessity is sometimes a cruel master, Sire, and men are always greedy and stupid. Who can say that a silver cup for which your Majesty would give ten thousand ducats, might not be melted down for ten crowns?" "How now! do you think that the King of France will ever pawn the dishes from his table?" "Sire, the Emperor of Constantinople pawned Our Saviour's crown of thorns with the Venetians." "But a King of France took it out of pawn, monsieur." "Very true; but think of the possible risks, revolution and exile. I come from a country whence the Medicis have been thrice expelled and thrice recalled, and it is only kings like your Majesty, who are glorious in themselves, from whom their treasures cannot be taken away."