But everyone knows that I am a crank.
Some time after my _Henri VIII_, in which Vaucorbeil had imposed another collaborator on me, Ritt asked me for a new work.

We were looking about for a subject, when Gallet came to my house and timidly, as if fearing a rebuff, proposed _Benvenuto Cellini_.

I had thought of that for a long time, and the idea had come to me of putting into musical form that fine drama, which had had its hours of glory, where Melingue modeled the statue of Hebe before the populace.

I, therefore, accepted the suggestion with pleasure.

This enterprise brought me in touch with Paul Meurice, whom I had known in my childhood, when he was wooing Mlle.