Чума
Part II
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ButatriflesuchasthiswouldnotchangeM.Othon:here,theplaguewaswastingitstime.Hecameintotherestaurantinthesamemanner,satdownbeforehischildrenandproceededtodeliverwell-turned,hostileremarkstothem.Onlythelittleboyhadalteredinappearance.Dressedinblacklikehissisterandalittlemoreshrunkintohimself,helookedlikethesmallershadowofhisfather.Thenight-watchman,whodidnotlikeM.Othon,toldTarrou:
"No,thatone,he’lldiefullydressed.Likethat,noneedtolayhimout;he’llgoasheis."
Paneloux’ssermonwasalsonoteddownbyTarrou,butwiththefollowingcommentary:"Iunderstandtheappealofsuchardour.Atthestartofapestilence,andwhenoneisover,peoplealwaysindulgeinalittlerhetoric.Inthefirstcase,thehabitisnotyetlostand,inthesecond,ithasalreadyreturned.Itisatthemomentofmisfortunethatonebecomesaccustomedtotruth,thatistosaytosilence.Letuswait."
Finally,TarrouobservedthathehadhadalongconversationwithDrRieuxofwhichallhecouldrememberwasthatithadagoodoutcome,henotedinthiscontextthelightbrowncolourofMmeRieuxsenior’seyes,ratheroddlystatedonthatsubjectthatafaceinwhichonecouldreadsomuchgoodnesswouldalwaysbestrongerthantheplagueand,finally,hedevotedquitealotofspacetotheoldasthmaticwhowasbeingtreatedbyRieux.
Hehadbeentoseehimwiththedoctoraftertheirtalk.
