A quarter of an hour later he reached the Louvre and went at once to the apartment set apart for the pages, requesting immediate speech of his Majesty. It was his purpose to tell François the whole story, and make an appeal to his loyalty, and, if he could not obtain Ascanio's release, to solicit permission to see him. As he came through the streets he considered what language he would use to the king, and as he had some pretensions to eloquence he was well content with the little speech he had prepared. The excitement, the terrible news he had learned so suddenly, the insults heaped upon him, the obstacles he could not overcome, all these had combined to set the blood on fire in the irascible artist's veins: his temples throbbed, his heart beat quickly, his hands shook. He did not himself know the extent of the feverish agitation which multiplied the energy of his body and his heart. A whole day is sometimes concentrated in one minute.
In such a frame of mind was Benvenuto when he appealed to a page for admission to the king's apartments.
"The king is not visible," was the young man's reply.
"Do you not recognize me?" asked Benvenuto in surprise.
"Perfectly."
"I am Benvenuto Cellini, and his Majesty is always visible to me."
"It is precisely because you are Benvenuto Cellini," returned the page, "that you cannot enter."
Benvenuto was thunderstruck.
"Ah! is it you, M. de Termes?" continued the page, addressing a courtier who arrived just behind the goldsmith. "Pass in, pass in, Comte de la Paye; pass in, Marquis des Prés."
"And what of me! what of me, pray?" cried Benvenuto, turning white with anger.