John de Witt opened the door in silence and was gone.
The Prince remained by the table; a long breath escaped him and a bright look shone under his heavy lids. He cried to himself in the words used by the great Philip to his ancestor—
“Not the States, but you! you!”
Then he sank into the chair again, resting his elbow on the table and his head in his hand, while he drew from his pocket the letter given him by Florent Van Mander. He looked at the writing and the seals, then replaced it in his waistcoat.
He coughed slightly and glanced towards the door which had closed on the Grand Pensionary.
“Not the States,” he repeated, “but you, Mynheer de Witt, you!”
CHAPTER IV
M. DE WITT’S SECRETARY
Florent Van Mander sat at his desk by the open window and looked out on to the garden of M. de Witt.