She set her lips in disdain of him, and turned to the haggard Lord President on her right. She had never liked Caermarthen, even though she owed her marriage largely to him, but she softened to him now; since the King’s departure he had worked incessantly. He was in extreme ill-health, and she believed he was loyal. "My lord," she said, "should we not soon have news from Lord Torrington? It is twenty-four hours since he had our orders to fight." "We are better waiting for that news than listening to it, Your Majesty," said Admiral Russell bluntly. Mary knew that he was largely inspired by professional jealousy. "Oh, sir," she answered, "we will have more trust in the man on whom the fate of three kingdoms dependeth." "Madam," said Lord Devonshire, "I do not think Lord Torrington a man to be intrusted with the fate of three kingdoms." Mary answered with animation. "That censure hath been passed before, my lord—and at the privy council—but since we must trust my lord let us pray God he will not fail us." "He would not like those orders to fight," exclaimed Edward Russell, who had been the main means of sending them. "A cautious man!" "One who was not cautious should have been sent to urge him!" cried Monmouth, who was angry that his entreaty to be permitted to join the fleet had been refused. Mary pressed her fan to her lips and sat mute; in truth, the agony she endured was not to be soothed with words. Her whole being was strung for the arrival of the next letters, not only from Torrington, who was now the sole defence of England, but from Ireland, where she knew her father and husband were rapidly approaching face to face. "Maybe," said the Lord President, "Torrington never got Your Majesty’s dispatch——" Monmouth, who was discussing with Godolphin the details of Fuller’s confession (that conspirator having turned informer to save his neck), swung round violently in his seat. "Dear Lord!" he exclaimed. "Do you mean that he may be still idle at St. Helens?" "It may be—the advice packets last reported that he had not moved, and that M. de Tourville was beyond the Needles." "Oh, were I on board," cried Monmouth, "there should be a battle—I pledge my life on it!" Mary was perfectly pale; she still held her fan to her lips and sat silent, so motionless that it seemed as if she scarcely breathed. "He had positive orders to fight," said Godolphin. "Oh, my lord," answered Marlborough sweetly, "is it not believed that this invasion is in concert with these plots among the malcontents?" "Do you mean that Lord Torrington is a traitor?" asked Caermarthen bluntly; he gave Marlborough a glance that conveyed he thought him one. The Queen dropped her fan and clenched it tightly in her right hand. "Gentlemen, this is no time for these insinuations, with the enemy on the coast. We," she said proudly and courageously—"we trust all those in our service, and have faith in God who hath it all in His keeping."