M. Fagel coughed.
“I am come,” he said, “to tell you of a restoration.”
“I knew,” answered John de Witt, “that it must be so.”
Gaspard Fagel drew himself up with some importance.
“The Deputies of Holland have proclaimed His Highness Stadtholder and Captain General of the Republic for life, with all the dignities formerly belonging to his ancestors.”
In these pompous words sounded the death-knell of the lifelong labour, hopes, policy, and ideals of John de Witt.
He looked out again upon the doves in the trembling elm boughs.
“They have kept me short of news, for I have been very ill,” he answered quietly, “but I have known how it must end.”
Gaspard Fagel was full of his subject.