And I have prayed him to let the king judge, but he will not, saying that his mind is fixed on higher judgment--and you know what he is." Then I said: "So that you hold me not guilty, my brother, I mind not so much; for if I must die you will take my place, and my father will not be without a son.
"I think you guilty!" he cried; "how could that be?
Shame on me were I to dream thereof--and on any man of all who know you who would deem you could be so." "Have you heard all ?" "Aye, for the earl has told me very patiently, being kind, for all his strange ways.

At last I told him that his wish for justice blinded his common sense.

And at that, instead of being wrath, he smiled at me as on a child, and said, 'What know you of justice ?'; so that I was as one who would beat down a stone wall with his fists---helpless.

He is not to be moved.

What can I do ?" and almost did he weep for my hard case.
"Let things go their own way, my brother," I said gently.