He seated himself, and the others took their places again. There was, in the whole assembly, a breathless air of expectation and excitement. The room was full of steady mellow sunshine, which brought out every detail of the persons of the gentlemen about the walnut table and glimmered in the fair hair of M. de Lunenburgh, who sat facing the window. The Stadtholder glanced round these intent faces and took off his gloves, unclasped his cloak, and said, in a passionate voice, directly addressing the Grand Pensionary— "M. Fagel, the design is to frighten the States, by declaring that any design against England will at once provoke France into an attack on the Provinces." M. Fagel was silent. This stroke was unexpected and tremendous. If Louis fell on the frontiers of the States, Their High Mightinesses would certainly not permit the Prince and the army to sail for England. "You know my opinion," continued William, looking at the Spaniard, "that if M. de Castagnana can but keep Ostend, Mons, and Namur till the spring, I shall then have settled this English business, and be able to return with a sufficient force to drive the French out of Flanders." "I think," said M. Fagel, "that the States would not take the risks, and this threat from France will have a very ill effect among the common people." "And," added M. Dyckfelt, who had primary charge of English affairs, "if M. D’Avaux and M. Skelton succeed in undeceiving King James as to the true design of M. de Sunderland that would be a shrewd blow——" "One which shall not be delivered," said the Prince firmly. "M. de Sunderland is the one man who can keep the foreign intelligence from the King, and he stayeth in office. M. D’Albeville is a dirty tool, but there is more use to be got out of him——" "But he, Your Highness, you say hath betrayed us?" questioned M. de Hesse. "And now he can betray them," said William. "By Heaven, Highness, do you think we, at this stage of our endeavours, shall trip over an insect like this D’Albeville?" He finished his sentence with a smile at M. de Hesse. He was himself of a German House, a German Prince and a Grandee of the Holy Empire, and had alway an affection for and a powerful influence over the Landgraves, Electors, and Princes who made up the German confederacy. M. de Hesse responded— "We are, as ever, ready to do what Your Highness thinketh fit in this juncture." "Ah!" answered William warmly. "I should do ill to fail with such friends——" "Should we not," asked M. Bentinck, "consult with some of the English at The Hague?" "No," said the Stadtholder firmly. "They have none of them any conception of continental affairs, and at present are engaged in disputing over the form of the Declaration, for they seem already to be split into very decided parties."