An expression of pain crossed William's face.
"It must be risked," he said, in his hoarse, tired voice. "Do you not suppose I have counted these risks?" he added half fiercely.
- Fagel looked at him straightly.
"Will the States permit Your Highness to take these risks?" he asked.
"I must hope to God that the States will trust me as they have done before," answered William, with dignity.
"Your Highness must lay down new ships, raise new companies, and under what pretence?"
"It can be done," said William. "Have not Algerine corsairs shown themselves in the North Sea? There is one excuse."
- Dyckfelt spoke now.
"I see other difficulties. I do not think that Your Highness need fear the loyalty of the States, but what of your Romanist allies, the Pope himself?"
"The Pope," said William calmly, "is on the verge of war with Louis over the Cologne affair, and as long as I stand against France I am assured of his secret support—and as for England, I have it from a sure hand that His Holiness was so offended by the sending of Lord Castlemaine as envoy that all King James his compliments to his nuncio have had no effect."