During this speech William had not taken his eyes from M. de Groot; when the speaker finished with a little bow, the Prince glanced quickly and keenly round the company.
“Was there no opposition to M. de Witt?” he asked, and Florent knew that he thought of Gaspard Fagel.
“None, Your Highness.”
“The States are easily frightened,” said the Prince scornfully and bitterly.
“Your Highness does not approve?” asked M. de Groot, with his easy air of elegance.
He was a handsome man, very finely dressed, with placid lips and tired eyes. He knew perfectly well that he was hateful in the eyes of William of Orange, but it did not in the least disturb his composure.
The silence of the onlookers grew tense to painfulness, so obvious and without disguise was the cold aversion of the two men facing each other.
“You are a bold man to undertake this commission,” said the Prince, evading a direct answer. “It will require careful treading, M. de Groot.”
“I am aware of the danger that I incur, Highness.”