“I wonder.”
The other was roused to argument.
“That has been said to me before—it was by Heinrich Potts—‘Your Prince has never heard a shot nor been under canvas,’ he said—‘and he has no strength to live through one campaign.’”
He paused.
William looked down at him as he methodically refilled his pipe.
“Well?—the first is true—the second well may prove so.”
“I answered nothing to that—but he added—‘Your Prince is in league with his uncle—why not?—and the King of France. If we give him the power, he’ll sell us all to them.’”
“I have heard that before,” said William slowly, looking out to sea.
“Well, Mynheer, I never believed it—but Potts said, ‘Why not?’ … and I emptied his tankard in his face.… He said M. de Witt was a good man.”
“I think he is,” commented William dryly.