"Were you not well enough paid for them," demanded William fiercely, "that you must go cry your wares in the French market?"
"Monseigneur, you are misinformed——"
The Prince cut him short.
"M. D'Avaux hath been told of M. de Sunderland's part—you told him. Hath King James been warned also?"
"I came to tell Your Highness so," stammered M. D'Albeville. "Not by me, God knoweth; but I had this morning a message——"
"From whom?"
"Not from my Lord Sunderland—direct from His Majesty bidding me ask the States the reason of the preparations of Your Highness——"
The Stadtholder glanced at his friends; he was still taut with passion. Dealing with mean creatures such as this roused that rare fury in him that brought him out of himself.
"So now you are afraid, eh?" he asked. "You are not quite so sure which is the winning side, M. le Marquis——"
M. D'Albeville came nearer the table. Another fear conquered his fear of the terrible Prince.