Чума
Part II
Heraisedhishatashepassedthelittlegroup.
"Goodday,MonsieurleJuge,"saidTarrou.
Themagistratereturnedthegreetingfromtheoccupantsofthecarand,lookingatCottardandRambert,whohadstayedinthebackground,noddedgravelyatthem.TarrouintroducedCottardandRambert.Themagistratelookedattheskyforasecondandsighed,remarkingthatthesewereindeedsadtimes.
"Theytellme,MonsieurTarrou,thatyouareengagedinapplyingpreventivemeasures.Icannotapplaudthisenough.Doctor,doyouthinkthatthediseasewillspread?"
Rieuxsaidthattheycouldonlyhopethatitwouldnotandthemagistraterepliedthatonemustalwayshope,butthedesignsofProvidenceareunknowable.Tarrouaskedhimiftheeventshadbroughthimanexcessworkload.
"Onthecontrary,whatwecallcommon-lawcasesareindecline.Nowadays,allIhavetoexamineareseriousbreachesofthenewregulations.Neverhavepeopleshownsuchrespectfortheoldlaws."
"Thisisbecause,bycomparison,theyseemgood,inevitably,"Tarrousaid.
Themagistrateabandonedthereflectiveairthathehadassumed,withhisgazeapparentlysuspendedinmid-air.NowheexaminedTarroucoldly.
"Whatdoesthatmatter?"hesaid."Whatcountsisnotthelaw,butthesentenceimposed.Wecandonothingaboutit."
"Thatman",Cottardsaid,whenthemagistratehadleft,"isEnemyNumberOne.
