He had refused to associate himself in any way with Brederode's party, and he was one of the few Stadtholders who obeyed Philip by using his civil authority to enforce the decrees of the Inquisition.
Yet he saw as well as any man the utter ruin to which Philip's policy was bringing the Netherlands; his Brussels palace was full of refugee heretics, and he was still regarded by the people as their hero and their possible champion.
He even ventured now to predict possible concession as the result of the forwarding of the Request or Petition to Philip.
William glanced at him with smiling eyes in a manner that brought the blood to Egmont's cheek.
"You speak against your own wit," remarked the Prince quietly. "You know that the King will not be moved from his purpose by the Petition of these young men, led by such as Brederode."
"It were better for all," interposed Count Hoorne sourly, "if Brederode had kept out of politics."
"Politics?" smiled William. "Poor Brederode knows little of politics! But he is brave and loyal, Count; I can conceive good uses for Brederode."
"His present uses," said Egmont bitterly, "seem to be to embroil us all. You know of this banquet to-night?"
"Yes," answered Mansfeld bitterly. "My son is there—I would to God he were elsewhere."
"There will be much treason talked," said Hoorne. "And Brederode in wine is no better than a madman."