William pressed his handkerchief to his lips, still looking away.
“Do not fear that I will not serve my country—I bear an unfinished motto, when I was a boy I completed it proudly ‘I will maintain the power and glory of the House of Orange’—now I would add ‘Liberty and the Protestant Religion’ to those words of mine.”
John de Witt was silent a moment, then he said slowly—
“I grieve the chance that makes us enemies, for we should have shown well as friends, my lord.”
The Prince turned and fixed at last his bright glance again on de Witt.
“Mynheer, when King Mithridates Eupator came to the throne, he sent a message to his enemies telling them of his accession.… No more was needed, they understood and destroyed themselves.… So between us; you will not serve me, and I need not tell you you must go.… Leave the Hague, Mynheer—and soon.”
“When my brother is set at liberty, Your Highness.”
“That shall be to-morrow.”
“You are staying here?”
“I quit early to-morrow for Woerden, Mynheer, to inspect the fortifications of the town.”