"It's strange that I don't know that name," muttered the duenna; "what is his profession?" "He is a goldsmith." Dame Perrine gazed wonderingly at Ascanio. "A goldsmith!" she muttered, "a goldsmith! And do you fancy that Monsieur le Prévôt will give up his palace like this to a--goldsmith?" "If he doesn't give it up, we will take it." "By force?" "Even so." "But your master will hardly dare to contend against Monsieur le Prévôt, I trust." "He has contended against three dukes and two popes." "Jésus Dieu! Two popes! He's not a heretic surely?" "He is as good a Catholic as you and I, Dame Perrine: have no fear on that score; Satan is in no wise our ally. But in default of the devil, we have the king on our side." "So! but Monsieur le Prévôt has a more powerful protector than the king." "Whom has he, pray?" "Madame d'Etampes." "Then we are on equal terms," said Ascanio. "But suppose Messire d'Estourville refuses?" "Master Benvenuto will take." "And suppose Messire d'Estourville shuts himself up here as in a citadel?" "Master Cellini will lay siege to it." "Consider that the provost has twenty-four sergeants-at-arms." "Master Benvenuto Cellini has ten apprentices: still we are on equal terms, you see, Dame Perrine." "But Messire d'Estourville is personally a sturdy fighter. At the tournament which took place at the time of the marriage of François I., he was one of the challengers, and all those who dared measure swords with him were unhorsed." "Ah well! Dame Perrine, then he is just the man for Benvenuto, who has never met his match, and who, like Messire d'Estourville, always unhorses his adversaries. But there is this difference between them: a fortnight afterward, they who have encountered your provost are on their legs again in good health and spirits, while they who have my master to deal with never raise their heads again, and three days after are dead and buried." "Evil will come of this! evil will come of this!" muttered Dame Perrine. "Young man, they say that fearful things are done in cities taken by assault." "Have no fear on that head, Dame Perrine," rejoined Ascanio with a smile. "You will have to do with generous conquerors." "What I mean, my dear child," said Dame Perrine, who was not sorry perhaps, to secure a friend among the besiegers, "is that I fear there may be bloodshed; for, so far as your proximity to us is concerned, you will understand that it cannot fail to be very agreeable to us, since society is somewhat scanty in this accursed desert to which Messire d'Estourville has consigned his daughter and myself, like two wretched nuns, although neither she nor I have taken the vows, thank God! It isn't good for man to be alone, so saith Holy Writ, and when Holy Writ mentions man, woman is included. Is not that your opinion, young man?" "That goes without saying." "And we are entirely alone, and therefore very doleful in this vast habitation." "Why, do you receive no visitors here?" Ascanio asked.