'I cannot do it,' said Hubert more to himself than to the prince, 'and I will not; I shall have to take the consequences.' He opened the door, and called in the two men.
They came in unwilling, each hoping that he would not have to do the deed.
'I have not burned out the prince's eyes,' said Hubert abruptly. 'What is more, I am not going to allow you to do so. You can tell the king if you like.'
'Indeed, sir,' said one of the men, 'we won't tell his majesty anything at all. And by your leave, sir, we would both rather be excused from doing our duty if it's to be a young gentleman like this, who can't have done anything to deserve it. And so we will wish you good-day, sir.'
The men shuffled out of the room, but Arthur's troubles were not over yet. King John began to think that Arthur, even without his eyes, was too dangerous a prisoner to keep on his hands; and he suggested to a knight named William de Bray that he should stab the prince in prison.
'I am a gentleman and not an executioner,' replied William de Bray; and he turned from the king in disdain.
Then John hired an assassin for a large sum of money, and sent him to the castle to kill the prince.
'Upon what errand dost thou come?' asked Hubert de Burgh, as the fellow presented himself at the castle gates.
'To despatch Prince Arthur,' said the man.
'Go back to him that sent thee,' said Hubert, 'and say that I will do it.'