"But you are united to Protestant princes, and the young princes, your brothers, are heretics," she answered, as if she was pleading with him.
"I am in Philip's service," he said, and lifted his head, looking at her straightly and intently.
She was quick in her reply.
"But your first loyalty is to the statutes of this land, which Philip rends and spurns, and your first obligation is the freedom and liberty of the land you help govern."
"Ah! You know that, do you?" exclaimed the Prince, and his expressive face changed, and seemed for a moment to be joyous; then the look of reserve closed over the flash of daring and animation, and he added quietly: "The Regent has sent a protest to His Majesty telling him it is impossible to enforce stringent laws against heretics in the Netherlands. And it is likely, it must be, that the King will see reason in her arguments."
"Is it likely?" asked Rénèe, looking steadily at the Prince. "Your Highness knows the King."
"Why, if he does not——" said William, then suddenly checked himself.
"If he does not?" repeated the girl swiftly. "What will Your Highness do?"
He seemed to utterly withdraw into himself, and his face was smooth and serene as a mask.
"I see you still have hopes of me," he smiled.