"No, Highness. I think of France."
"France!" cried William. "I think of France also."
"If they should attack us while you were absent—or even before you were ready——"
William lifted his hand gravely and let it fall lightly on the smooth surface of the table.
"Ah, if—M. Fagel," he said solemnly; "but that is in God His keeping, where all our destinies be—and we can but fulfil them."
He smiled a little as if he thought of other things, and his bright gaze again sought the window, but instantly he recalled himself.
"I need detain you no more to-night—I shall need to see the States separately and the Amsterdamers—everything must be put in train immediately."
All three rose. The two older men were much moved; before the mind of each were pictures of ten years ago when with the same deliberate courage and heroic fatalism the Prince had pitted himself against France and been forced by the treachery of Charles Stewart into the peace of Nymwegen.
Ten years ago, and ever since William had been working for and planning a renewal of the war he had then been forced to conclude; now it seemed that he had accomplished his desire, and that his re-entry into the combat would be in a manner to take the breath of Europe.
Grave men as these two were, and well used to the spectacle of high policies, they felt that extraordinary thrill which shakes those about to watch the curtain draw up on tremendous events.