One morning he returned and entered the ante-chamber for an audience.

A groom came up to him and said: "_Pardon me, I have been ordered not to admit you_." A bishop was present, and hearing the words of the man, cried out: "_You cannot know who this man is ?_" "_I know him very well_," replied the groom, "_but I am obliged to do what I am bid by my masters without further question_." Michael Angelo, who had never before been kept waiting or had the door barred against him, seeing himself so turned off and scorned, was angered and replied: "_You may tell the Pope that, henceforward, if he wants me he must look for me elsewhere_." So he returned to his house and instructed his two servants to sell all his furniture, and when they got the money to follow him to Florence.

He himself took horse and at the second hour of the night reached Poggibonsi, a castle in the Florentine territory, eighteen or twenty miles from the city, where, as in a safe place, he rested.
XXIX.

A little later five messengers from Pope Julius arrived with orders to bring Michael Angelo back wherever they might find him.

But overtaking him in a place where they were unable to offer him any violence, Michael Angelo threatening them with death if they dare lay hands on him, they turned to entreaties; then not succeeding, they obtained from him the concession that at least he would reply to the letter from the Pope which they had given to him, and that he should particularly write that they had only overtaken him in Florence that the Pope might understand that they were unable to bring him back against his will.