The judge would be nearly certain to condemn the citizen, and to confiscate whatever he could lay hands on.

The king might pardon, and would be content with a part only, where his ministers would grasp all.
These friends succeeded in their object; the king, who hated all judicial affairs because they involved the trouble of investigation, shrugged his shoulders at the request, and would not have granted it had it not come out that the citizen's servant had declared him to be an incapable commander.

At this the king started.

"We are, indeed, fallen low," said he, "when a miserable trader's knave calls us incapable.

We will see this impudent rascal." He accordingly ordered that the prisoner should be brought before him after dinner.
Felix was led inside the entrenchment, unbound, and commanded to stand upright.