CHAPTER VII

(1544)
Cellini puts together the disjointed portions of the Fontainebleau
doorway.—He is consulted by the King regarding the fortifica-
tions of Paris.—Being warned that Madame d'Estampes has
robbed him of the King's favour, Cellini goes to see His Majesty
and is well received.—Francis I promises Madame d'Estampes
to give Cellini a scolding in order to terrify him.—Our hero justi-
fies himself, but demands leave from the King to take his de-
parture from France.—The King on seeing the colossal figure of
Mars, directs that the expenses incurred in connection with it be
paid at once, and complains that the Cardinal of Ferrara had
neglected our artist.—Barbarous counsels of the Comte de Saint
Paul and of Madame d'Estampes.—The King, being occupied in
the War against the English, Cellini is once more left without
supplies.—He goes to see the King at Argentan, taking with him
two vases, and again begs for permission to retire to Italy.
T\ /TEANWHILE I gave my attention to the putting
1VJL together of my beautiful doorway with all the
(other) objects described below. And since I do not
want to trouble to indite in this my Autobiography
matters which appertain to those persons who write chron-
icles, I have therefore omitted the advent of the Emperor
with his vast army, and the King with all his armed
forces And at that time he (the King) sought
* The Imperial army after taking the Chateau de Saint-Dizier on
the banks of the Marne in Champagne, towards the end of August
1544, sacked the towns of Epernay and Chateau-Thierry, and
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