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Part II
AfewdayslaterCottardmetRambertinthestreetandgreetedhimwiththedirectnessthatnowadayscharacterizedallhisbehaviourwithothers:
"Stillnothing?"heasked.
"No,nothing."
"Youcan’tcountonofficials;they’renottrainedtounderstand."
"That’strue.ButI’mlookingforanotherway.It’shard."
"Ah!"saidCottard."Isee."
HedidknowcertainchannelsandexplainedtoRambert,whoexpressedastonishmentatthis,thathehadforalongtimebeenfrequentingallthecafesinOran,thathehadfriendsandthatheknewabouttheexistenceofanorganizationwhichtookcareofthiskindofoperation.ThetruthwasthatCottard,whoseexpenditurenowadaysexceededhisincome,hadbeeninvolvedinsmugglingrationedgoods:hetradedincigarettesandcheapspirits,thepricesofwhichwereconstantlygoingup.Thebusinessbroughtinasmallfortune.
"Areyousure?"Rambertasked.
"Yes,sincethepropositionwasmadetome."
"Whydidn’tyoutakeadvantageofit?"
"Don’tbesosuspicious,"Cottardsaid,good-naturedly."Ididn’ttakeadvantageofitbecauseIdon’tmyselfwanttoleave.Ihavemyreasons."
Andafterapauseheadded:
"Whydon’tyouaskwhatthosereasonsare?"
"Iassume,"saidRambert,"thatit’snoneofmybusiness."
"Inasense,no,itisn’t.
