"Whatever Your Highness may say—I know."
"Ah!" answered William, "but can you prove?"
"To the satisfaction of my own intelligence, Monseigneur," said M. D'Avaux vigorously. "You cannot suppose that I have been unobservant as to your measures since the beginning of the year."
William kept his eyes fixed on the carp sluggishly moving round the fountain basin.
"It would interest me, M. D'Avaux," he said, "to hear what you have discovered of these measures of mine."
"You shall hear, Monseigneur." The Frenchman spoke as one spurred and goaded. "For one thing, I know that you obtained four million guilden from the States for repairing the fortifications of Brabant—that this money was to be payable in four years, and you have raised it in one. Your Highness hath the money, and the forts are untouched."
William was silent.
"Another public fund of equal value you have diverted from its proper use; you have farmed out the revenues of the Admiralty, and this, with your own great fortune, maketh Your Highness master of a huge treasure—apart from the money you are constantly raising among the French and English refugees. For what purpose is all this wealth intended?"
"You say you know," replied William, without looking up. "And, my faith, what kind of an answer can you expect from me?"
"Your Highness can give no good reason."