He had never made any pretence of concealing his dislike to either of them, and it was plain that he regarded them both as his enemies, and their coming on this errand as an insult.
Peter de Groot, always courtly, began by prefacing his errand with courtesies, but William checked them.
“Will you be good enough to say at once what you have come to say?” he said in a chilling tone. “I have a press of business.”
They were all standing; the representatives of the States General facing the Prince, who had M. Bentinck behind him.
He rested one hand on the table, the other in his sword strap. He wore a black cuirass over a leather coat, and a black silk sash and scarf trimmed with gold; round his neck hung a star on a crimson ribbon; there was a great deal of Malines lace about his wrists, and in his brown beaver a long black feather fastened with a sapphire brooch.
Florent thought he looked very ill, yet, in comparison with the weighty men surrounding him, very young.
M. de Groot accepted his rebuke with courtly good temper. He was a man of wide experience, not easily embarrassed.
“M. de Witt and Their High Mightinesses consider the state of the country justifies extraordinary means of preservation.”
He spoke formally, as much to M. Beverningh as to the Prince; the representative of the States was as important in his eyes as the Captain General, his mission was to both.
“M. de Witt, hearing of the passage of the Rhine by the French troops, and of the fall of the forts on the frontier, has decided to send an embassy to the King of France, to know what terms he will take. Having obtained the consent of Their High Mightinesses, myself, M. Van Ghent, and M. Odyk are appointed to convey to His Majesty the letter of the States General—we are now on our way to the castle of Keppel, where the King of France is to be found with M. de Louvois, and, following our instructions, have stopped here to acquaint you, M. Beverningh, and His Highness.”