“They know nothing of me—they give me the credit of my name.”
The Prince turned to the window now and looked out on to the darkening prospect of trees and sky.
“M. de Witt hath opposed me most bitterly in the Assembly,” he said. “I think he called me some hard names—an inexperienced boy. Ah! what I have taken from that man, William. M. Jacob de Witt does not forget Loevenstein—nor do I——”
He coughed and abruptly changed the subject.
“Do you remember what they did to the children when Alva had rule here, William?… I saw a child to-day, on the sands … do you think the French would be more merciful than the Spanish?—their Romish faith!… King Louis hopes to celebrate Mass at the Hague.…”
“If the peace negotiations fail what could one do?” asked M. Bentinck. “We have de Ruyter, but there is no captain to hold the French back on the land.”
“One might arise,” answered the Prince.
“You think——?”
William cut him short.