"We have not been idle," he declared. "The festivities, the weddings of Parma and Montigny, have been a fair pretext for our meetings. We have already a league among ourselves."
"I know something of that," answered William. "It will be as dangerous a matter as Egmont's livery."
"Do you bid me hold back—now?" cried Louis impetuously.
"I bid no man hold back," replied the Prince quietly. "Who are with you in this design?"
"Brederode, Ste Aldegonde, Culemburg, Hoogstraaten, de Hammes, Montigny—all the younger nobility——"
"Montigny!" said William softly, "and he has just taken a wife."
"Is she not a beautiful creature?" answered Louis. "Half of those who jousted before her would have given half their rents to win Hélène d'Espinoy. Montigny loves his wife," he added, in a lower voice. "Did you not notice it at the jousts?"
"I hope he will not go to Madrid," remarked William. "I hear that he and Berghen think of undertaking an embassy to Philip."
"Egmont—will he not go again?" asked Louis.
"No—he is still sore at the success of his last mission."