“Your sister’s husband, M. de Groot, hath gone on an embassy to make terms with the King of France, and I think you have a mind to follow his example—you also wish to stand well with Louis, do you not?”
A dark colour tinged the Frenchman’s pallid face.
“Your Highness cannot mean what it would seem you intend.”
For the first time William moved; he came a step nearer the other.
“I mean that you very basely abandoned the post I gave you on the Rhine,” he spoke evenly, but with a bitter dislike, “thereby allowing easy passage to the French, which was an irreparable disaster and a thing that could have been prevented.”
M. de Montbas took his hand from his sword and pressed it to the breast of his shining cuirass.
“Your Highness is unjust … what could I do with three thousand men?”
“If ye had had but three hundred, M. de Montbas,” answered William fiercely, “ye could have done your duty; and if ye had had but three ye could have done it … and died.”
The Vicomte fumbled at the chain on his chest.
“I had no orders——”