Чума
Part IV
RieuxwassurprisedonedaytofindhimselfspeakingtoGrandabouthisownwifeinthemostcasualway,somethingthathehadneverpreviouslydone.Ashewasnotsurehowmuchfaithheshouldputinthealwaysreassuringtelegramsthathiswifesent,hehaddecidedtocabletheheaddoctoratthesanatoriumwhereshewasbeingtreated.Inthereplyhewasinformedthatthepatient’sconditionhadworsenedandthateverythingwouldbedonetohalttheadvanceofthedisease.Hekeptthenewstohimselfandcouldnotunderstandwhat,unlessitwastiredness,hadinducedhimtoconfideinGrand.Thecivilservant,aftertalkingaboutJeanne,hadquestionedhimabouthiswifeandRieuxansweredhim."Youknow,"Grandhadsaid,"itcanbecuredverywellnowadays."Rieuxhadagreed,sayingsimplythattheseparationwasgettinglongandthathemighthavebeenabletohelphiswifetoovercomeherillness,butthatnowshemustfeelallalone.Afterthat,hefellsilentandwouldonlygiveevasiveanswerstoGrand’squestions.
Theotherswereinthesamestate.Tarrouwasholdingupbest,buthisnotebooksshowthat,whilehiscuriosityhadnotlessenedindepth,ithadlostsomeofitsdiversity.Indeed,throughoutthatperiodheappearedonlytobeinterestedinCottard.Intheevening,atRieux’shouse,wherehehadeventuallymovedinafterthehotelwastransformedintoaplaceofquarantine,hewouldbarelylistentoGrandorthedoctorastheydeliveredtheresults.
