“He was angry, of course,” said the Princess evasively.
“He told you my action had imperilled those favours already promised me—in a word, he threatened you.”
“Maybe he did—he was certainly angry,” repeated the Princess.
“And you gave way, Madame.”
“Not an inch!”
William smiled rather bitterly.
“I wish I could believe it——”
“Indeed, it is the truth.”
“It is the truth, Madame,” asserted the Prince impatiently, “that M. de Witt frightened you into losing all the ground we had gained. Of what use to me are a few plaudits in Middelburg if I lose the seat in the Council of State and the Captain Generalship?”
“You must not blame me for that,” protested the Princess. “I could not defy M. de Witt, who is, after all, our master.”