“Who is the new secretary?”
The Grand Pensionary seemed slightly surprised.
“He?—a young man from Guelders.” He glanced to where the person in question sat absorbed in writing. “He was recommended to me by de Groot—he is diligent and silent—I like him.”
Sir William’s white fingers slowly turned the leaves of the volume he held.
“Then we may talk freely?”
“As always in my house.”
The Englishman glanced up. His face, which was of a dark, soft, luxurious style of indolent good looks, expressed a watchful yet friendly kind of amusement and interest; his air was slightly cynical, wholly pleasant, as if viewing follies that never tempted him to participate in them he yet found them harmless and tolerated them, good-humouredly.
“Well, then, of the Prince,” he said. “What are you going to do?”
John de Witt frowned.