The Prince flushed at sight of the writing, and was breaking the seal when an officer entered to say that a private messenger from King Charles desired a secret audience of the Prince.
William cast down the letter and listened eagerly.
It had always been his passionate hope to detach his uncle from the King of France.
“Who was it?”
“A Frenchman, who had his passport and credentials and had shown them to Count Struym.”
The Stadtholder would see him—at once. He turned all save Bentinck from the room, he knew that Charles liked to act under a mask of secrecy.
“Though you may,” smiled William, “listen at the window.”
He was all animation, hope, and eagerness. If Charles should come to secret terms the Republic was saved.
Florent, very pale, still urged his interrupted tale—
“This may be the very man!”