of the
hindrances she placed in his way. Well, his work was still considered
most beautiful, and he must make the best of it.

Orders for pictures came now from far and near, and before long some of
Andrea's work found its way into France; and when King Francis saw it
he was so anxious to have the painter at his court, that he sent a
royal invitation, begging Andrea to come at once to France and enter
the king's service.

The invitation came when Andrea was feeling hopeless and dispirited.
Lucrezia gave him no peace, the money was all spent, and he was weary
of work. The thought of starting afresh in another country put new
courage into him. He made up his mind to go at once to the French
court. He would leave Lucrezia in some safe place and send her all the
money he could earn.

How good it was to leave all his troubles behind, and to set off that
glad May day when all the world breathed of new life and new hope.
Perhaps the winter of his life was passed too, and only sunshine and
summer was in store.

Andrea's welcome at the French court was most flattering. Nothing was
thought too good for the famous Florentine painter, and he was treated
like a prince. The king loaded him with gifts, and gave him costly
clothes and money for all his needs. A portrait of the infant Dauphin
was begun at once, for which Andrea received three hundred golden
pieces.

Month after month passed happily by. Andrea painted many pictures, and
each one was more admired than the last. But his dream of happiness did
not last long. He was hard at work one day when a letter was brought to
him, sent by his wife Lucrezia. She could not live without him, so she
wrote. He must come home at once. If he delayed much longer he would
not find her alive.

There could be, of course, but one answer to all this. Andrea loved his
wife too well to think of refusing her request, and the days of peace
and plenty must come to an end. Even as he read her letter he began to
long to see her again, and the thought of showing her all his gay
clothes and costly presents filled him with delight.

But the king was very loth to let the painter go, and only at last
consented when Andrea promised most faithfully to return a few months
hence.

'I cannot spare thee for longer,' said Francis; 'but I will let thee go
on condition that thou wilt buy for me certain works of art in Italy,
which I have long coveted, and bring them back with thee.'

Then he entrusted to