Чума
Part II
Thatsameevening,thelittleoldmanhadgoneoutontohisbalconyattheusualtime,shownsomeindicationofsurprise,leantovertolookupanddownthestreetandthensettleddowntowait.Hishandtappedlightlyagainsttherailingofthebalcony.Hewaitedabitlonger,toreupapieceofpaper,wentbackinside,cameoutagain,then,afterawhile,suddenlyvanished,slamminghisfrenchwindowsangrilybehindhim.Inthedaysthatfollowed,thesamescenewasrepeated,butyoucouldreadclearerandclearersignsofsadnessanddismayonthefaceoftheoldman.Whenaweekhadgoneby,Tarrouwaitedinvainforhisdailyappearance,butthewindowsremainedobstinatelyclosedagainstaveryunderstandablefeelingofgrief."Intimesofplague,itisforbiddentospitatcats,"waswhatTarrou’snotebooksconcluded.
Ontheotherhand,whenTarroucamebackintheeveninghewasalwayssuretomeetthesombrefigureofthenight-watchmanwalkingupanddowninthehall.Themanneverceasedtoremindeveryonethathehadforeseenwhatwashappening.Tarrouwouldacknowledgethathehadheardhimpredictamisfortune,butwouldremindhimofhisideathatitwouldbeanearthquake,towhichtheoldwatchmanwouldreply:"Ah!Ifonlyithadbeenanearthquake!Agoodshakeandthat’sit…Onecountsthedead,onecountsthelivingandthewholething’soveranddonewith.Butthisrottenbastardofadisease!Eventhosewhodon’thaveit,carryitintheirhearts."
Thehotelmanagerwasnolessovercomebyitall.
