Чума
Part II
AtfirstRamberthadcontinuedtoworkthroughofficialchannels.Hehadalwayssaidthathethoughtobstinacywouldeventuallytriumphoveranythingand,insomeways,hisjobinvolvedusinghiswitstogetroundproblems.Sohewenttoseealargenumberofcivilservantsandpeoplewhosecompetenceonedidnotusuallyquestion.But,inthecircumstances,thiscompetencewasuselesstothem.Mostofthetimetheyweremenwhohadpreciseandfixednotionsabouteverythingtodowithbanking,orexports,orcitrusfruits,orperhapsthewinetrade.Theyhadundeniableexpertiseinproblemsoflitigationorinsurance,nottomentionexcellentqualificationsandevidentgoodwill.Youmightevensaythatthemoststrikingthingamongallofthemwastheirgoodwill.Butwhenitcametotheplague,theirknowledgewasmoreorlessnil.
However,Ramberthadputhiscasetoeachofthem,wheneveritwaspossible.Thebasisofhisargumentremainedthesame:hesaidthathewasaforeignerinourtownandthat,consequently,hiscaseshouldbegivenspecialconsideration.Ingeneral,thosethejournalistapproachedwerewillingtoconcedethepoint.Butmostofthetimetheyarguedthatanumberofotherpeoplewereinthissituationandsohiscasewasnotasexceptionalasheimagined.
