The next day, Ascanio and Colombe were married in the chapel at the Louvre, and, notwithstanding the rules of etiquette, the young people obtained permission for Jacques Aubry and his wife to be present. It was a signal favor, but we must agree that the poor student had well merited it. XXIII MARIAGE DE CONVENANCE A week later, Hermann solemnly espoused Dame Perrine, who brought him as her marriage portion twenty thousand Tours livres, and the assurance that he would soon be a father. We hasten to say that this assurance had much more to do with the honest German's determination than the twenty thousand Tours livres. On the evening following the marriage of Colombe and Ascanio, Benvenuto set out for Florence, despite the entreaties of the young husband and wife. During his stay in Italy, he cast the statue of Perseus, which still adorns the square of the Old Palace, and which was his most beautiful work,--for no other reason, perhaps, than that he executed it at the period of his greatest sorrow. THE END.