Милий друг
Attainment
Thebishophadfinishedhisharangue,apriestascendedthealtar,andtheorganpealedforth.Suddenlythevibratingtonesmeltedintodelicate,melodiousones,likethesongsofbirds;thenagaintheyswelledintodeep,fulltonesandhumanvoiceschantedovertheirbowedheads.VauriandLandeckoftheOperaweresinging.
Bel-Ami,kneelingbesideSuzanne,bowedhishead.Atthatmomenthefeltalmostpious,forhewasfilledwithgratitudefortheblessingsshowereduponhim.Withoutknowingjustwhomhewasaddressing,heofferedupthanksforhissuccess.Whentheceremonywasover,herose,and,givinghisarmtohiswife,theypassedintothesacristy.Astreamofpeopleentered.Georgesfanciedhimselfakingwhomthepeoplewerecomingtogreet.Heshookhands,utteredwordswhichsignifiednothing,andrepliedtocongratulationswiththewords:"Youareverykind."
SuddenlyhesawMme.deMarelle,andtherecollectionofallthekisseshehadgivenherandwhichshehadreturned,ofalltheircaresses,ofthesoundofhervoice,possessedhimwiththemaddesiretoregainher.Shewassopretty,withherbrighteyesandroguishair!Sheadvancedsomewhattimidlyandofferedhimherhand.Hetook,retained,andpresseditasiftosay:"Ishallloveyoualways,Iamyours."
Theireyesmet,smiling,bright,fulloflove.Shemurmuredinhersofttones:"Untilwemeetagain,sir!"andhegailyrepeatedherwords.
Othersapproached,andshepassedon
