Чума
Part II
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Outsidetherainwascomingdownmoreheavilyandthislastsentence,deliveredinthemidstoftotalsilence,madestilldeeperbythelashingoftherainonthecathedralwindows,thunderedforthwithsuchpowerthatafteramoment’shesitationafewmembersofthecongregationslippedfromtheirchairsontotheprayerstools.Othersfeltthattheyshouldfollowtheirexample,withtheresultthat,fromonetoanother,withnonoiseexceptthecreakingofsomechairs,verysoonthewholecongregationwaskneelingdown.Atthis,Panelouxdrewhimselfup,tookadeepbreathandcontinuedinincreasinglyemphatictones:"iftheplagueaffectsyounow,thismeansthatthetimehascometoreflect.Thejusthavenoneedtofear,buttheunjustshouldtremble.Inthevastgranaryoftheuniverse,theimplacableflailwillthreshthehumancornuntilthechaffisdividedfromthegrain.Therewillbemorechaffthangrain,morecalledthanchosen,andthismisfortunewasnotwilledbyGod.Fortoolongthisworldhascompromisedwithevil;fortoolongithasreliedondivinemercy.Becauseonehadonlytorepent,everythingwaspermitted.Andwhererepentancewasconcerned,eachmanfelthewasstrong.Whenthetimecame,onewouldsurelyrepent.Untilthen,theeasiestcoursewastoletoneselfgo,anddivinemercywoulddotherest.Well,itcouldnotlast.God,whohassolongbentthefaceofpitytowardsthistown,istiredofwaiting;disappointedinHiseternalhope,HehasturnedawayHisface.
