Чума
Part II
Itwasaroundthistime,astheylearnedlater,thathestartedtoshowsignsofabsent-mindednessattheoffice,whichwasconsideredunfortunateatamomentwhenthedemandsontheHôteldeVillewereoverwhelmingandtheyhadtomanagewithareducedstaff.Hisworkwassufferingandhisheadofdepartmentseriouslycriticizedhim,withareminderthathewaspaidtocarryoutdutiesthathewasnotinfactcarryingout."Itappears",theheadofdepartmenthadsaid,"thatyouaredoingvoluntaryserviceinthehealthteams,inadditiontoyourwork.Thisdoesnotconcernme.Whatdoesconcernmeisyourwork;andthefirstwaytomakeyourselfusefulinthesedreadfulcircumstancesisforyoutodoyourworkforuswell.Otherwise,alltherestispointless."
"He’sright,"GrandtoldRieux.
"Yes,heisright,"thedoctoragreed.
"ButIcan’tconcentrate;Idon’tknowhowtoresolvetheendofmysentence."
Hehadthoughtoflighteningitbydropping"deBoulogne",assumingthateveryonewouldunderstand"theBois".ButthenthesentenceappearedtoattachtheflowerstotheBoisinsteadoftotheavenues:"flowersoftheBois".Healsoconsideredwriting:"theavenuesoftheBoisfullofflowers’;butthisleftoneuncertainwhethertheflowersbelongedwiththeBoisorwiththeavenues,andthistormentedhim.ItistruethatsomeeveningsheseemedevenmoretiredthanRieux.
