"
The pious man groaned dismally.
"I have a plan which will prevent this. The day after to-morrow I shall
renounce all claim to the throne; but being selfish, like the rest, I
refuse to renounce all claim to the woman the Archbishops themselves
chose as my wife, neither shall I allow the case to be made further the
plaything of circumstance. Your kinswoman, no later ago than this
afternoon, confessed her love for me and her complete disregard of any
position I may hold in this realm. Now, Father Ambrose, I ask you
several questions. Is it in consonance with the rules of the Church that
a marriage be solemnized in this chapel?"
"Yes."
"Are you entitled to perform the ceremony?"
"Yes."
"Is it possible this ceremony can be performed to-morrow?"
"Yes."
"Will you therefore attend to the necessary preliminaries, of which I am
vastly ignorant, and say at what hour the Countess and I may present
ourselves in this chapel?"
"The Archbishop of Cologne is guardian to her ladyship. Will you bring
me his sanction?"
"Ah, Father Ambrose, there is just the point.
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