“If he obtain it—’twill be the first step to the Stadtholdership.”
“If I have any power left, father, he will not obtain it—and if he obtain it in spite of me, he will find that the office is incompatible with the Stadtholdership.” John de Witt set his lips firmly. “I have seen to that.”
“He hath an extraordinary presumption to pretend to such an office!”
The Grand Pensionary answered slowly, almost reluctantly—
“I believe it is the wish of the Army—such is their folly.”
“They are very eager to forge their own chains,” said Jacob de Witt grimly.
“It is a strange thing—I think it is the name hath the glamour—they would take him untried.…”
John de Witt paused a moment, then went on in a low and laboured voice—
“There are so many difficulties … a domestic revolution threatened … a foreign invasion … but if they trusted me I could save them yet … from France and from themselves.”
He straightened himself and put his hand to his breast.