You yourself allow, Robin, that the Prince wants neither shrewdness nor capacity for affairs, when he is in the humor to consider them." "Doubtless, he wants neither, my liege," replied Albany, "when he is in the humor to consider them." "I say so," answered the King; "and am heartily glad that you agree with me, Robin, in giving this poor hapless young man another trial.

He has no mother now to plead his cause with an incensed father.

That must be remembered, Albany." "I trust," said Albany, "the course which is most agreeable to your Grace's feelings will also prove the wisest and the best." The Duke well saw the simple stratagem by which the King was endeavouring to escape from the conclusions of his reasoning, and to adopt, under pretence of his sanction, a course of proceeding the reverse of what it best suited him to recommend.

But though he saw he could not guide his brother to the line of conduct he desired, he would not abandon the reins, but resolved to watch for a fitter opportunity of obtaining the sinister advantages to which new quarrels betwixt the King and Prince were soon, he thought, likely to give rise.
In the mean time, King Robert, afraid lest his brother should resume the painful subject from which he had just escaped, called aloud to the prior of the Dominicans, "I hear the trampling of horse.

Your station commands the courtyard, reverend father.