"I thank Your Highness," answered M. D'Avaux, with a grand bow.
The Prince closed the gate on him, and went instantly into the house by the back entrance. And so straight to his private room, where a little company, consisting of M. Fagel, M. Bentinck, M. Dyckfelt, the envoy of M. Castagnana, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, the envoy of the Elector of Hanover, a Prince of Lunenburgh, and the Landgrave of Hesse were awaiting him.
They all rose at his entrance. He came swiftly and breathlessly to the table, flung off his hat, and said—
"Gentlemen, M. D'Avaux knoweth everything—that villain D'Albeville hath betrayed us. There is a bomb to be dropped to-morrow that is like to blast us all."
CHAPTER X
THE ENGLISH AMBASSADOR
"M. D'Albeville?" echoed the Landgrave.
"It can be none other, Highness," answered William, with energy. "No one else was privy to my Lord Sunderland his part——"
- Fagel gave a quick exclamation.
"He knoweth that?"