Чума
Part II
Butthewaiting-roomswhichcouldbereachedfromoutsideremainedopen;sometimesbeggarswouldsettletherewhenitwashotbecausetheroomswereshadyandcool.Rambertcametoreadoldtimetables,noticesforbiddingspittingandtherailwayby-laws.Thenhewouldsitdowninacorner.Theroomwasdark.Anoldcast-ironstovehadbeencoolingformonthsinthemiddleoffigures-of-eighttracedbyoldwaterings.Onthewallafewnoticesadvertisedahappy,freelifeinBandolorCannes.HereRambertexperiencedthesortoffearfulfreedomthatonefindsinutterdestitution.Thepicturesthatwerehardestforhimtobear,atleastaccordingtowhathetoldRieux,werethoseofParis.Alandscapeofoldstoneandwater,thepigeonsofthePalais-Royal,theGareduNord,theemptydistrictsaroundthePantheonandafewotherplacesinacitythathehadnotbeenawareoflovingsomuch,wouldpursueRambertandpreventhimfromdoinganythinginparticular.Rieuxsimplythoughtthatheidentifiedtheseimageswiththoseofhisbeloved.And,onthedaywhenRamberttoldhimthathelikedtowakeupatfourinthemorningandtocontemplatehiscity,thedoctorhadnodifficultyindeciding,onthebasisofhisownexperience,thatthiswaswhenRambertlikedtothinkaboutthewomanhehadleftbehind.Thiswas,actually,thetimewhenhecouldgraspholdofher.Ingeneral,atfourinthemorning,onedoesnothingbutsleep,evenifthenighthasbeenoneofbetrayal.
