While working on the opera, Poulenc composed little else; exceptions were two "mélodies", and a short orchestral movement, "Bucolique" in a collective work, "Variations sur le nom de Marguerite Long" (1954), to which his old friends from "Les Six" Auric and Milhaud also contributed. As Poulenc was writing the last pages of his opera in October 1955, Roubert died at the age of forty-seven. The composer wrote to a friend, "Lucien was delivered from his martyrdom ten days ago and the final copy of "Les Carmélites" was completed (take note) at the very moment my dear breathed his last."