Чума

           Butyouseehowharditis."

           "Whatdoyouthinkabout"resplendent"?"Tarrouasked.

           Grandlookedathimthoughtfully.

           "Yes,"hesaid."Yes!"

           Andasmileslowlycrossedhisface.

           Shortlyafterthis,heconfessedthattheword"flowered"wasbotheringhim.SincehehadonlyeverbeentoOranandMontélimar,hewouldsometimesaskhisfriendsfordetailsabouthowfloweryweretheavenuesoftheBoisdeBoulogne.Quitehonestly,neitherRieuxnorTarrouhadeverhadtheimpressionthattherewereflowersthere,butthecivilservant’sconvictionmadethemdoubt.Hewasastonishedbytheiruncertainty:"Onlyartistsknowhowtousetheireyes."Thenonedaythedoctorfoundhiminastateofgreatexcitement.Hehadreplaced"flowered"by"fullofflowers".Herubbedhishands:"Atlast,wecanseethem,wecansmellthem.Hatsoff,gentlemen!"Triumphantly,hereadoutthesentence:"OnafineMaymorning,aslenderwomanwasridingaresplendentsorrelmarethroughtheavenuesfullofflowersoftheBoisdeBoulogne."Butwhenitwasreadaloud,therepetitionof"ofattheendofthesentencesoundeduglyandGrandstumbledalittleoverit.Hesatdown,seemingcrushed.Thenheaskedthedoctor’spermissiontoleave.Heneededtothinkforawhile.