Sir Alfred had not the slightest feeling of animosity against the Dutch.

On the contrary, he would have liked them to become persuaded of his desire to protect them against possible aggression by the Jingoes, whose offensive conduct none more than himself assessed at its true value.
But what was the real situation?
He found his every action misconstrued; whatever he did was interpreted in a wrong sense, and those who should have shared his aims were plotting against him.

The position was truly tragic from whatever side it was viewed, and a weaker or less honest man would assuredly have given up the struggle.
A few days after my conversation with Sir Alfred Milner, which took place during the course of a dinner at Government House, I took opportunity to mention it to Rhodes.

I tried to clear his mind of the suspicions that I knew he entertained in regard to the High Commissioner.

Cecil Rhodes listened to me with attention, then asked me in that sarcastic tone of his, which was so intensely disagreeable and offensive, whether I was in love with Sir Alfred, as I had so suddenly become his champion.