And others, on seeing her, came to dispute possession, seized both arms, gilding and velvet, and pressed their mouths to wood-work or upholstery, their bodies meanwhile shaking with their sobs.

Force had to be employed in order to drag them away.
When it was all over Pierre went off, emerging as it were from a painful dream, sick at heart, and with his mind revolting.

And again he encountered Nani's glance, which never left him.

"It was a superb ceremony, was it not ?" said the prelate.

"It consoles one for many iniquities." "Yes, no doubt; but what idolatry!" the young priest murmured despite himself.
Nani, however, merely smiled, as if he had not heard the last word.