“You never told me this.”
“No—perhaps I should not have told you now, my father,” her eyes rested anxiously upon his face; “but—the Prince cannot be your friend, sir.”
“He hath no control over the brawling mob,” answered the Grand Pensionary hastily. “He would not wish me to be insulted.… I must make an example of some of these rioters—an example,” he repeated.
Agneta put her little hand timidly on his arm.
“Sir, we are no longer beloved in the Hague nor at Dordt … they say such things of you——”
There she checked herself. They had all agreed to keep from John de Witt what his growing enemies said of him.
“It is not strange,” he answered mournfully; “but it is strange, and cruel, that it should come to thy ears, Agneta.”
A frightened expression stole into her large, pale blue eyes.
“Father, why are these people turning against you?—nay, I must speak of it—M. Fagel is no longer friendly——”