William listened, turning the rose about on the table beside him; once or twice he coughed and put his hand to his head.
When John de Witt paused he looked up slowly.
“This should have been seen to long ago,” he said in a low voice.
“What do you mean?” asked the Grand Pensionary quickly.
William rose.
“This country is utterly unprepared for war.… The Navy is half disarmed, the Army of a miserable strength … the forts insufficiently garrisoned.… Those who have been governing the country for the last twenty years are those who must answer for it, Mynheer.”
“You are blaming me?”
William caught up his gloves and the great red flower.
“I am the servant of the Republic—the Commander of the Army—nothing more—I cannot say what has been done amiss nor what rightly—doubtless you can answer for your conduct, Mynheer de Witt.”
The Grand Pensionary had no weapon against an indirect attack, veiled in courtesy.