"H'm."
"Though, to be sure, I cannot help my tastes."
"You may suffer for them, none the less."
"I am ready to pay for them. Since your Majesty has taken a fancy to this young man—"
"Who, by the way, has maltreated a whole company of my guards."
"—Permit me, as his guardian, to ransom him. He has large estates."
"You forget, sir," exclaimed the King haughtily, "that I am punishing him. Do you entertain the idea of bribing me?"
"I forget nothing, sire. I even remember that this is England, and not Holland."
"My lord," said William, turning to the Earl of Marlborough, "I pray you dispose of the recruit as you think fit. Have him removed, and have the highroad cleared of these rebels; for I see my escort down the road."
And touching the sorrel with his heel, his Majesty cantered back to meet the approaching cavalcade.