Page:The Great Roxhythe - Georgette Heyer.pdf/19

"Your pardon, Sir."

One of the dogs barked in its sleep and growled.

The King leant forward again.

"In Holland to-day there is a strong Orangist party. Influential men, some of them . . ." he mentioned names . . . "And a few of the richer tradesmen. Not so many of that class. 'Tis the noblemen and the mob who are for the Orange, but the burghers stand by De Witt. If Louis presently invades the Low Countries, as I believe he will do, De Witt's position becomes the more insecure. The mob will blame him for the invasion, and turn to rend him. Then were the time to produce the Prince, with a small force at his back. England would approve it, and in such a way I might become independent of Louis."

"It is a pretty scheme, Sir," said Roxhythe slowly. "But one point Your Majesty overlooks.”

"What is it?"

"The Prince himself, Sir."

Charles brushed the objection aside.

"A mere boy. My bait should be tempting enough."

"Have you considered that others may have dangled that same bait?"

"Louis. Assuredly. But on my side there is this: I am his uncle; England is Protestant, as he is. Louis is Catholic, and the blood-tie is not so close."

"You are sure, too, that the Prince is amenable to bribes, Sir?"

The sombre look faded from the King's face. He showed his teeth in a smile of pure mischief.

"Roxhythe, Roxhythe, have ye forgot he is a Stuart?"

The favourite laughed.

"No, Sir. Nor that he is also a Nassau."

"A proud race," nodded the King. "Still, his youth stands me in good stead."

"He may have older and wiser councillors, Sir, not easy to dazzle."

"I never yet met a statesman I could not bribe," replied the King cynically.

A smile flickered across Roxhythe's mouth.