"You certainly do not understand," she said quietly.
A sudden thought flashed to Portland.
"Was it you, my lady," he asked, "who put Sunderland to bring van Keppel forward with his tale of Namur when the King was sick?"
"Have you only just guessed it?" she answered.
"I might have known it was a woman's trick," he said bitterly. "What made you think of such a device?"
She smiled and made no answer.
"And why did you employ M. van Keppel?" added Portland.
"Because," said Lady Orkney, "he was of the age the King's son might have been."
Portland stared.
"A woman's trick, you see." She smiled. "Women think of these things—do not consider me as a vulgar intriguer, even if you cannot understand, and let M. van Keppel be—I think he will console the King a little."