"Yes, I have received a letter from one of my agents in Spain" (he did not mention that this agent was Vandenesse, the King's private secretary), "and he tells me that my arrest is resolved upon the moment Alva reaches the Netherlands—and that my trial is not to last more than twenty-four hours."
"But they would do nothing to me," said Anne sullenly.
"Before God, Madame, I entreat you to hasten! Are you not a Lutheran and the Elector Maurice's daughter, and do you hope to stand in Alva's good graces?"
A slight tremor shook Anne.
"It does not please me to go to Dillenburg," she muttered.
William flushed.
"You remind me that I have no other house to offer you," he said. "I must entreat your patience, Anne."
"Let me go to Cologne," answered the Princess. "I think you could well spare me."
"It is not possible. Our separation would cause a scandal, and is there need to put our affairs in every man's mouth? And at this juncture of my affairs I cannot well afford two households."
This drove Anne into one of her sudden furies.