“It certainly did not fare ill at first.”
“The messenger, who yesterday evening—”
“Ours came this morning.”
“This morning, you say? And what more—”
“The Prince’s army was defeated and utterly destroyed on Mook Heath. Louis of Nassau himself was slain.”
Van der Werff pressed his fingers firmly on the wood of the writing-table. The fresh color of his cheeks and lips had yielded to a livid pallor, and his mouth quivered painfully as he asked in a low, hollow tone, “Louis dead, really dead?”
“Dead,” replied the baron firmly, though sorrowfully. “We were enemies, but Louis was a noble youth. I mourn him with you.”
“Dead, William’s favorite dead!” murmured the burgomaster as if in a dream. Then, controlling himself by a violent effort, he said, firmly:
“Pardon me, noble sir. Time is flying. I must go to the town-hall.”
“And spite of my message, you will continue to uphold rebellion?”