"Ascanio will answer for me," said Colombe, with a smile, turning to the youth. "It is his right to dispose of me." "Have no fear, master: Colombe will be brave," said Ascanio. "In that case, Colombe, will you, trusting in our loyalty and your own innocence, boldly leave this house and go with us?" Ascanio started in surprise. Colombe looked at them both for a moment without speaking, then rose to her feet, and said simply,-- "Where am I to go?" "O Colombe, Colombe!" cried Benvenuto, deeply moved by such absolute trust, "you are a noble, saintly creature, and yet Stefana made me very exacting in my ideal. Everything depended upon your reply. We are saved now, but there isn't a moment to lose. This is the decisive hour. God places it at our disposal, let us avail ourselves of it. Give me your hand, Colombe, and follow me." The maiden lowered her veil as if to hide her blush from itself, then followed the master and Ascanio. The door between the Grand and Petit-Nesle was locked, but the key was in the lock. Benvenuto opened it noiselessly. When they were passing through, Colombe stopped. "Wait a moment," she said in a voice trembling with emotion; and upon the threshold of the house which she was leaving because it had ceased to be a sanctuary for her, the child knelt and prayed. Her prayer remained a secret between God and herself; but doubtless she prayed that he would forgive her father for what she was driven to do. Then she rose, calm and strong, and went on under the guidance of Cellini. Ascanio with troubled heart followed them in silence, gazing fondly at the white dress which fled before him in the shadow. They walked in this way across the garden of the Grand-Nesle; the songs and heedless, joyous laughter of the workmen at their supper, for it will be remembered that it was a holiday at the château, reached the ears of our friends, who were anxious and nervous as people ordinarily are at supreme moments. When they reached the foot of the statue, Benvenuto left Colombe a moment, went to the foundry, and reappeared, laden with a long ladder which he leaned against the colossus. The moon, the celestial watcher, east her pale light upon the scene. Having made sure that the ladder was firmly fixed in its place, the master knelt upon one knee in front of Colombe. The most touching respect softened the sternness of his expression. "My child," said he, "put your arms around me, and hold fast." Colombe obeyed without a word, and Benvenuto lifted her as if she had been a feather. "The brother," he said to Ascanio as he drew near, "must allow the father to carry his beloved daughter."