"What was it?
How can you ask me, when you know as well as I do the wretched failure of my mission.

It was the king's wish that the archbishop should marry them.
The king's wish is the law.

It must be the archbishop or none.
He should have been at the palace by now.

Ah, my God! I can see the king's cabinet, I can see him waiting, I can see madame waiting, I can hear them speak of the unhappy De Catinat--" He buried his face in his hands once more.
"I see all that," said the American stolidly, "and I see something more." "What then ?" "I see the archbishop tying them up together." "The archbishop! You are raving." "Maybe.

But I see him." "He could not be at the palace." "On the contrary, he reached the palace about half an hour ago." De Catinat sprang to his feet.