“We have come to a bitter pass!”
“M. Fagel writes there is fierce dissension at the Hague.… We will see what these English have to say.”
“They are in the camp now!”
“Count Struym conducts them here,” answered William.
He took off his mantle and leant back in his chair. He looked ill, and coughed continually.
M. Bentinck regarded him curiously. He rather wondered what the Prince was going to say to these English.
The situation was so desperate that any terms offered were almost bound to be accepted, but William Bentinck could not think of the Prince as submitting to either England or France.
Suddenly William broke out—
“Did you hear the terms M. de Groot obtained? Outrageous insolence! Does he think we will be content to be slaves? But they brought it on themselves by sending a crawling embassy of submission.”
“Do you imagine the English will be more reasonable, Highness?”