physicians of Europe; and, as he was apprehensive that they might
return flattering answers if they knew who he was, he had written
under feigned names. To Fagon he had described himself as a
parish priest. Fagon replied, somewhat bluntly, that such
symptoms could have only one meaning, and that the only advice
which he had to give to the sick man was to prepare himself for
death. Having obtained this plain answer, William consulted Fagon
again without disguise, and obtained some prescriptions which
were thought to have a little retarded the approach of the
inevitable hour. But the great King's days were numbered.
Headaches and shivering fits returned on him almost daily. He
still rode and even hunted;26 but he had no longer that firm seat
or that perfect command of the bridle for which he had once been
renowned. Still all his care was for the future. The filial
respect and tenderness of Albemarle had been almost a necessary
of life to him. But it was of importance that Heinsius should be
fully informed both as to the whole plan of the next campaign and
as to the state of the preparations. Albemarle was in full
possession of the King's views on these subjects. He was
therefore sent to the Hague. Heinsius was at that time suffering
from indisposition, which was indeed a trifle when compared with
the maladies under which William was sinking. But in the nature
of William there was none of that selfishness which is the too
common vice of invalids. On the twentieth of February he sent to
Heinsius a letter in which he did not even allude to his own
sufferings and infirmities. "I am," he said, "infinitely
concerned to learn that your health is not yet quite
reestablished. May God be pleased to grant you a speedy recovery.
I am unalterably your good friend, William." Those were the last
lines of that long correspondence.