"No matter, Benvenuto, no matter, I desire my salt dish in gold, and my treasurer will hand you to-day a thousand gold crowns of the old weight for that purpose. You hear, Comte d'Orbec, to-day, for I do not wish Cellini to lose a minute. Adieu, Benvenuto, go on with your work, the king does not forget his Jupiter; adieu, messieurs, think of Charles V." While François was descending the staircase to join the queen, who was already in her carriage, and whom he was to accompany on horseback, divers incidents occurred which we must not omit to mention. Benvenuto walked up to Comte d'Orbec and said to him: "Be good enough to have the gold ready for me, Messire le Trésorier. In obedience to his Majesty's commands I go at once to my house for a bag, and shall be at your office in a half-hour." The count bowed in token of acquiescence, and Cellini took his departure alone, after looking around in vain for Ascanio. At the same time Marmagne was speaking in an undertone with the provost, who still held Colombo's hand. "This is a magnificent opportunity," he said, "and I shall go at once and summon my men. Do you tell D'Orbec to detain Cellini as long as possible." With that he disappeared, and Messire d'Estourville went to D'Orbec and whispered a few words in his ear, after which he said aloud,-- "Meanwhile, count, I will take Colombe back to the Hôtel de Nesle." "Very good," said D'Orbec, "and come and let me know the result this evening." They separated, and the provost slowly walked away with his daughter toward the Hôtel de Nesle, followed without their knowledge by Ascanio, who did not lose sight of them, but kept his eyes fixed fondly upon his Colombe. Meanwhile the king was mounting a superb sorrel, his favorite steed, presented to him by Henry VIII. "We are to make a long journey together to-day," he said, "'Gentil, joli petit cheval, Bon à monter, doux à descendre.'[11] Faith, there are the first two lines of a quatrain," he added; "cap them for me, Marot, or you, Master Melin de Saint-Gelais." Marot scratched his head, but Saint-Gelais anticipated him, and with extraordinary promptness and success continued:-- "Sans que tu sois un Bucéphal, Tu portes plus grand qu'Alexandre."[12] He was applauded on all sides, and the king, already in the saddle, waved his hand gracefully in acknowledgment of the poet's swift and happy inspiration. Marot returned to the apartments of the Queen of Navarre, more out of sorts than ever. "I don't know what the matter was with them at court to-day," he grumbled, "but they were all extremely stupid."