"Oh, he is honest," said William dryly. He took up the first letter again; it was signed at the bottom by seven numbers, thus: 25, 24, 27, 29, 31, 35, 33; the Prince did not require the code sent him by Henry Sidney to discover the names these numbers stood for; he had the cipher by heart, and knew that the seven who had signed were Lord Shrewsbury, Lord Devonshire, Lord Danby, Lord Lumley, the suspended Compton, Bishop of London, Admiral Russell, and Mr. Sydney himself. They represented a body of opinion that was weighty; if they were not many, they were powerful, and the Prince himself had said that he did not need many names if they were those of great families. Lord Halifax, who had been one of his warmest supporters, had shrunk from the first hint of anything so violent as a revolution, and the Prince had forbidden the design to be opened to him; for the scruples of Lord Nottingham he had also been prepared; therefore the signatures were the utmost that he could have hoped for; but he gave no sign of excitement or satisfaction, but sat thoughtfully looking at the two papers in his hand. "Mr. Sidney saith that you are well instructed in these affairs, Mr. Herbert," he said at last, raising his great eyes. "This paper is well composed and comprehensive, but it saith nothing of how far the King is suspicious of these gentlemen and their correspondence with me. And that is an important matter." Admiral Herbert answered instantly. "The King is kept amused by my Lord Sunderland, sir, who hath his entire confidence." "My Lord Sunderland hath not openly joined you?" "No, sir; and in truth his conduct is a mystery, but Mr. Sidney hath a pledge from the Countess that he will not betray us." "I am tolerably sure of my lord," answered the Prince. "He hath control of the foreign correspondence, hath he not?" "Yes, Your Highness. We have felt some fears for M. D’Albeville, the King his envoy here, it being generally believed that he is in the pay of M. Barillon." "He receiveth some kind of pension from him," said the Prince calmly, "and maketh him all manner of promises. But he is better fee’d by me, and I do know that he sendeth beguiling letters home." "Then I think there is no one likely to open the King his eyes. It all resteth now on the resolution of Your Highness." The Prince very faintly smiled. "They suggest any attempt, if any be made, this year, do they not?" he said, instantly grave again. "At once, sir, is what we should wish." The Prince rose and crossed to the hearth. "This winter would be the soonest," he answered quietly. "Tell me more of England—it is the King his purpose to call a packed parliament in the autumn?" Arthur Herbert replied with a kind of angry energy that betrayed the force that had involved him in these intrigues.