John de Witt bent his head.
“I did what I thought right, what I must think right still.… I taught you to be a patriot and to fear God. I acted for the love of my country and for no vile motive of my own.”
He looked up.
“And for my temerity in opposing a Nassau I am very bitterly punished, Your Highness.”
William put his hand on the back of the chair behind him.
“You could have stayed in office if you would have served me.”
“The States are my master, and I resigned while they were still my master.”
The Stadtholder interrupted—
“You shall be unmolested in your retirement, Mynheer.”