The permission was not attended with the result that the young prince's counsellors had hoped.

For a time, James showed a lively pleasure when Desmond rode over to Saint Germain, walked with him in the gardens, and talked to him alone in his private apartments, and professed a warm friendship for him; but Desmond was not long in discovering that his first estimate of the prince's character had been wholly erroneous, and that his outburst at their first meeting had been the result of pique and irritation, rather than any real desire to lead a more active life.

Upon the contrary, he was constitutionally indolent and lethargic.

There were horses at his command, but it was seldom, indeed, that he would take the trouble to cross the saddle, although walking was distasteful to him.

Even when speaking of his hopes of ascending the throne of England, he spoke without enthusiasm, and said one day: "It is a pity that it cannot be managed without fuss and trouble.
I hate trouble." "Nothing can be done worth doing, without trouble, Your Majesty," Desmond said sturdily.