In this passage, the narrator describes how arguing with the Prince of Barrow was futile, comparing the experience to trying to fight a curtain that easily moves and resists. This metaphor highlights the prince's elusive and perhaps elusive nature, making disputes with him difficult and ultimately pointless.

Robin Stewart, faced with such a challenge, decided to give up, recognizing the futility of the struggle. The quote from Dorothy Dunnett's Queens' Play emphasizes the perceived strength and evasiveness of the prince, illustrating the protagonist’s realization that some battles are not worth fighting.