Милий друг
A Meeting and the Result
"
Hereplied:"IconfesseverySaturdayfromthreetosix."
Seizinghisarmsherepeated:"No,now,atonce—atonce!Itisnecessary!Heishere!Inthischurch!Heiswaitingforme."
Thepriestasked:"Whoiswaitingforyou?"
"Aman—whowillbemyruinifyoudonotsaveme.Icannolongerescapehim—Iamtooweak—tooweak,"
Shefelluponherkneessobbing:"Oh,father,havepityuponme.Saveme,forGod’ssake,saveme!"Sheseizedhisgownthathemightnotescapeher,whileheuneasilyglancedaroundonallsidestoseeifanyonenoticedthewomanathisfeet.Finally,seeingthathecouldnotfreehimselffromher,hesaid:"Rise;Ihavethekeytotheconfessionalwithme."
***
DuRoyhavingwalkedaroundthechoir,wassaunteringdownthenave,whenhemetthestout,boldmanwanderingabout,andhewondered:"Whatcanhebedoinghere?"
ThemanslackenedhispaceandlookedatGeorgeswiththeevidentdesiretospeaktohim.Whenhewasnearhim,hebowedandsaidpolitely:
"Ibegyourpardon,sir,fordisturbingyou;butcanyoutellmewhenthischurchwasbuilt?"
DuRoyreplied:"Idonotknow;Ithinkitistwentyortwenty-fiveyears.ItisthefirsttimeIhavebeenhere.Ihaveneverseenitbefore."Feelinginterestedinthestranger,thejournalistcontinued:"Itseemstomethatyouareexaminingintoitverycarefully.
