"I shall deliver my message to-morrow," said M. D’Avaux, "and then Your Highness will see if the States are prepared for an attack—an instant attack on their frontiers—if they are prepared to allow you and their whole strength to leave a country which France is menacing. You saved the Provinces in ’72—without you they could not save themselves now——" "You must follow out your instructions, Monsieur," said the Prince. He stepped down from the sundial and looked narrowly at the Ambassador. "You have nothing more to say?" he added. "Nothing, Monseigneur, unless Your Highness can give me the assurances I was bid to ask——" "What would be the use of that, Monsieur, when you know, as you say," returned the Stadtholder. M. D’Avaux was slightly baffled; he thought that the Prince must betray more concern unless he had some counter-stroke to this of the threat to the States. He answered with dignity— "Then I need trouble Your Highness no further." "Very well," answered William. "I am sorry that you have wasted your time, Monsieur; but I always was of a tolerably positive disposition, and difficult to turn." "All Europe knoweth that," answered M. D’Avaux, with a little flush; for the Prince’s words were an obvious assertion of the fact that he would not alter his plans for any French threats—an obvious challenge. They walked down the hard gravel path between the beds of late roses. At the garden gate the Prince parted from M. D’Avaux with that simplicity which was his natural manner, but generally credited to him for guile. "I am obliged to you for this courtesy," he said. "Au revoir, Monsieur." "I thank Your Highness," answered M. D’Avaux, with a grand bow. The Prince closed the gate on him, and went instantly into the house by the back entrance. And so straight to his private room, where a little company, consisting of M. Fagel, M. Bentinck, M. Dyckfelt, the envoy of M. Castagnana, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, the envoy of the Elector of Hanover, a Prince of Lunenburgh, and the Landgrave of Hesse were awaiting him. They all rose at his entrance. He came swiftly and breathlessly to the table, flung off his hat, and said— "Gentlemen, M. D’Avaux knoweth everything—that villain D’Albeville hath betrayed us. There is a bomb to be dropped to-morrow that is like to blast us all." CHAPTER X THE ENGLISH AMBASSADOR "M. D’Albeville?" echoed the Landgrave. "It can be none other, Highness," answered William, with energy. "No one else was privy to my Lord Sunderland his part——" M. Fagel gave a quick exclamation. "He knoweth that?" "Yes—he scenteth it," said the Stadtholder grimly. "And he hath a pretty idea of the preparations, only he doth not guess either their magnitude nor their forwardness."