Чума
Part IV
Atthesamemoment,theorchestrastoppedplaying,thepeopleinthestallsgotupandslowlystartedtoleavethetheatre,firstlyinsilence,asonedoesonleavingachurchwhentheserviceisoverorafunerarychamberafteravisit,thewomengatheringuptheirskirtsandleavingwithloweredheads,themenguidingtheirfemalecompanionsbytheelbowandsteeringthempastthefoldingseats.Butlittlebylittle,themovementspeededup,thewhisperingsturnedintoexclamationsandthecrowdpouredoutinthedirectionoftheexits,hurryingthroughthemandeventuallypushingandshouting.CottardandTarrou,whohadmerelyrisentotheirfeet,remainedalonebeforeanimageofwhattheirlifewasatthattime:theplagueonthestageinthepersonofaperformerlikealimppuppet;and,intheauditorium,luxurythathadbecomeuselessintheformoffansandlacestolesleftbehindontheredplushoftheseats.
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IntheearlydaysofSeptemberRambertworkedconscientiouslybesideRieux.Hemerelyaskedforaday’sleavewhenhewastomeetGonzalesandthetwoyoungmeninfrontoftheboys’school.
Thatday,atnoon,Gonzalesandthejournalistsawthetwoladslaughingastheyapproached.Theysaidthatthey’dbeenunluckylasttime,butitwasonlytobeexpected.Inanycase,itwasn’ttheirweekonguardduty.They’dhavetowaituntilthenextweek;thentheycouldstartalloveragain.Rambertsaidthatwascertainlyhowhewouldputit.
