"You are sent by Mr. Sidney?" he asked at last.
He had a short, strong way of speaking; his manner was stately to coldness. Arthur Herbert looked in vain for any trace of emotion or curiosity as to the momentous errand he must know that he, Herbert, had come upon, or even, as he reflected rather vexedly, any welcome for himself.
"By Mr. Sidney and some others, sir," he answered.
The Prince put his gloves on the table, and raised his eyes.
"You have, Mr. Herbert, brought some answer to my late request that some powerful English families should give me a written invitation to this expedition to which the Protestant lords have so constantly, and, of late, so insistently urged me."
Admiral Herbert put his hand into the breast of his common coat, and pulled out a sealed packet, which he handed to the Prince.
"This association, Your Highness, of which you have had advices from my Lord Shrewsbury and Mr. Sydney, is at length signed by seven of our great men, and I pray Your Highness to take it as full warrant for interfering in the present miserable estate of England."
After having delivered this speech, Admiral Herbert looked straightly at the Prince, who was slowly breaking the seals. He felt more enthusiasm for the cause than for His Highness, and more warmly for both when he was not in the actual presence of the Prince, whose personal coldness had an ill effect on the Englishman's impatient nature.
"This is Mr. Sidney his hand," remarked the Prince.
Arthur Herbert laid another letter on the dark, shining table.