My lord looked round the other nobles; they seemed strangely silent.
"Sir, how went it in Parliament?" he asked, approaching the King.
William made a heavy effort to answer.
"I—well enough—they——" His voice trailed off.
Sunderland stood utterly amazed. Was this man going to fail?
"Sir, the Triennial Bill?" he questioned half fearfully.
The King rose; he seemed utterly unnerved; he whom my lord had ever considered beyond the touch of weakness.
"I passed it," he said faintly.
The colour flashed into Sunderland's face.
"You did!" he cried. "You made that great concession. By God, if any but Your Majesty had made that statement I should have disbelieved them——"