He passed the falcon to a page, and continued, "What business have these men at my court ?" "None, Your Grace, absolutely none," answered Max, standing proudly before the duke and steadfastly meeting his gaze.

"It was my desire to see the world and to learn something of its people before I undertook to govern my own.

My country is not rich and fat like this great land of Burgundy.

I have neither the means nor the inclination to travel in state; so my dear friend and instructor, Sir Karl de Pitti, undertook to guide me and teach me in this journey to the outer world.

I would rather have missed seeing all other countries than Burgundy, and of all the princes of the world Your Grace was and is to me the most interesting.
Your hand is the strongest, your courage the bravest, and your land the richest in Europe.