Francis bowed and retired, more polite and even more gentle than usual.

But in less than hour he had returned.

"What is it, brother, what do you want of me again ?" "Monsignor," replied Francis, "when a father drives his son out at the door he returns by the window." The bishop, disarmed by such pious persistence, gave the desired authorization.[9] The aim of Francis at that time, however, was not to evangelize Italy; his friars were already scattered over it in great numbers; and he desired rather to gain them access to new countries.
Not having been able to reach the infidels in Syria, he resolved to seek them in Morocco.

Some little time before (July, 1212), the troops of the Almohades had met an irreparable defeat in the plains of Tolosa; beaten by the coalition of the Kings of Aragon, Navarre, and Castile, Mohammed-el-Naser had returned to Morocco to die.

Francis felt that this victory of arms would be nothing if it were not followed by a peaceful victory of the gospel spirit.
He was so full of his project, so much in haste to arrive at the end of his journey, that very often he would forget his companion, and hastening forward would leave him far behind.