"Mynheer, neither on my own understanding nor on the mistakes of my enemies do I rely, but on the services of such as you and M. Fagel." Praise was rare from the Prince they served, and at the sound of it the two grave diplomats coloured. M. Dyckfelt answered. "Where should Your Highness find perfect loyalty if not in us?" "God be thanked," said William, with a contained passion, "I have no cause to doubt my own people. But here," he added frankly, "we have to deal with foreigners, and those a nation of all others light and changeable in politics, arrogant and wilful. At present every noble out of office for not attending Mass, and every officer removed to give place to an Irish Papist, is for me; every courtier who thinketh the King insecure is my very good friend, and every country gentleman deprived of his vote raileth against King James—it will take some diplomacy, gentlemen, to combine these into a firm support for my design, and at the same time to conciliate the Catholics." "There is a great body of fanatics very eager to call Your Highness their champion," said M. Dyckfelt. "The Hague is full of them," replied the Prince; "but as each man spendeth all his energies in advancing his own grievances and his own schemes there is not much use in them. Methinks the Tories are a surer strength, but they love me not—only use me to save their liberties. The Whigs shout for me, but know me not——" "They are a corrupt and shallow people," said M. Fagel. M. Dyckfelt, who had spent several months in England marshalling the discontented factions, and putting them under the leadership of the Prince, answered this statement of the Grand Pensionary. "There are many able, knowing, and patriotic men among them, though, being out of office, they are not so commonly heard of as the knaves who make the ministry." William spoke with some impatience. "Heaven help me, I would never trust an Englishman, unless it were Mr. Sidney; for when they are honest they are lazy, as Lord Halifax and Sir William Temple, and too indifferent to business to be stirred; and when they are dishonest, which I ever found the great majority, they are the most shameless creatures in the world." "Yet in the present instant Your Highness must trust them." William smiled grimly. "Their heads are on their secrecy this time, Mynheer. Besides, I think these men are spirited enough if I can use them before their indignation cools." There was a second’s pause of silence, then M. Fagel spoke. "Your Highness will require a vast deal of money." "Yes," said the Prince dryly; "but I believe that it can be raised.’ "In England?" inquired M. Dyckfelt. "—and among the French refugees here—and from my own fortune, Mynheer, which hath ever exceeded my wants—also, Mynheer, I hope the States will help." "How great a sum would it be, Highness?" William, who had the whole project already clear in his head, and had made careful calculations as to the cost, answered at once.