Чума
Part IV
Thisiswhereheiswrongandheishardertounderstandthansomeothers.Butafterallthatiswhyhedeserves,morethanothers,thatweshouldtrytounderstandhim."
Finally,Tarrou’saccountendswithastorywhichillustratesthepeculiarawarenessthatcameatthesametimetoCottardandtovictimsoftheplague.Thisstorycapturesthedifficultatmosphereofthetime,whichiswhythenarratorattachessomeimportancetoit.
TheyhadgonetotheMunicipalOperaHousewheretheywereplayingOrpheusandEurydice.CottardhadinvitedTarrou.Thecompanywasonethathadarrivedinthespringoftheplagueyeartogivesomeperformancesinourtown.Trappedbythedisease,theyfoundthemselvesobliged—withtheagreementoftheOperaHouse—tokeepongivingthesameperformance,onceaweek.Thus,forsomemonthsnow,everyFriday,themunicipaltheatrerangtothemelodioussighsofOrpheusandthepowerlesspleasofEurydice.However,theoperawasstillasuccesswiththepublicandcontinuedtotakealotofmoneyatthebox-office.Sittinginthemostexpensiveseats,CottardandTarroulookedoutoveranaudiencepackedwiththemostelegantoftheirfellow-citizens.Thosewhocameintotheauditoriumobviouslymadeaneffortnottospoiltheirentrance.Thesilhouettesstoodoutclearlybeneaththedazzlinglightsontheapronstageastheymovedfromonerowtoanother,bowinggracefully,whilethemusicianstunedtheirinstruments.
