"The worst news in the world for me," answered Mary. Then she cried, "This is what M. D’Avaux meant!" The Countess raised her beautiful eyes. She was very fair in rose-pink silk and lace, her appearance gave no indication of misfortune, but in her heart was always the sharp knowledge that she was an exile playing a game, the stake of which was the greatness, perhaps the life, of her husband. "What news, Highness?" she questioned gently. Mary was too inflamed to be reserved, and, despite the vast difference in their natures, a great closeness had sprung up between her and the Countess during these weeks of waiting. "They wish to make me Queen," she said, with quivering lips, "to the exclusion of the Prince. My Lord Danby, whom I never liked, is leading a party in the Convention, and he saith will have his way——" Lady Sunderland was startled. "What doth His Highness say?" "Nothing of that matter—how should he? But he would never take that place that would be dependent on my courtesy—he!" She laughed hysterically. "What doth my lord mean?—what can he think of me? I, Queen, and the Prince overlooked?—am I not his wife? And they know my mind. I told Dr. Burnet, when he meddled in this matter, that I had sworn obedience to the Prince and meant to keep those vows——" She paused, breathless and very angry; her usual vivacity had changed to a blazing passion that reminded Lady Sunderland of those rare occasions when His late Majesty had been roused. "My lord meant to serve you," she said. "To serve me!" repeated Mary, "when he is endeavouring to stir up this division between me and the Prince—making our interests different——" "You are nearer the throne, Highness——" Mary interrupted impatiently— "What is that compared to what the Prince hath done for England? Can they think," she added, with a break in her voice, "that I would have done this—gone against—His Majesty—for a crown—for anything save my duty to my husband? What must _he_ think of me—these miserable intrigues——" She flung herself into the red brocade chair in front of the cabinet, and caught up the offending letter. "Yet," she continued, with a flash of triumph, "this will give me a chance to show them—where my duty lieth——" She took up her pen, and Lady Sunderland came quickly to the desk. "What do you mean to do?" she asked curiously. "I shall write to my lord, tell him my deep anger, and send his letter and a copy of mine to the Prince." Lady Sunderland laid her hand gently on Mary’s shoulder. "Think a little——" Mary lifted flashing eyes. "Why should I think?" "This is a crown you put aside so lightly!" The Princess smiled wistfully. "I should be a poor fool to risk what I have for a triple crown!" "Still—wait—see," urged the Countess; "’tis the crown of England that my lord offereth——"