“Will Your Highness take my horse?”
William mounted and rode in amongst the men, M. Bentinck and the two officers at his stirrup.
Not knowing him they let him pass without a salute; they believed that it was one of their own captains.
William suddenly halted and bent from the saddle towards a little group who stood whispering together.
“Do you not know me?” he asked.
They fell apart and looked up.
His face was quite clear in the moonlight; for he wore no hat, and his hair was tied back in his neck.
“I think that you know me,” he said. “Go fetch the others, for I would speak to you.”
They moved back, half reluctantly.
“All these men have arms, Highness,” warned the officer.