“It is solely Charles Stewart.” Then he laughed again.
“Did you hear of the Merlin?”
“Sir William’s yacht, was it not?”
“Yes; taking Lady Temple home the yacht passed through your fleet and demanded the salute—fired on your flag—captain told to, of course; is in the Tower now for not doing more—what does that look like but war?”
“The pretexts are utterly wanton and frivolous,” remarked M. Bentinck.
“M. de Witt hath ceded the salute of the flag.”
The young Dutch noble flushed swiftly.
“Doth he still hope to obtain peace?”
Mr. Bromley shrugged his shoulders.
“Downing made some impossible demands—he is a ruffler sent to cause friction, of course. I should say his secret orders were to provoke a war by any means.”