Чума
Part I
Butthefactremainsthat,asachronicleofthetime,thesenotebookscangiveusamassofminordetailswhicharenonethelessimportant.Indeed,theirveryodditywillpreventusfrombeingtoohastyinpassingjudgementonthisinterestingcharacter.
ThefirstnotesthatJeanTarroumadedatefromhisarrivalinOran.Fromtheverystarttheyexhibitacurioussatisfactionatfindinghimselfinatownthatissointrinsicallyugly.HerewefindadetaileddescriptionofthetwobronzelionsontheHôteldeVille,andcharitablereflectionsontheabsenceoftrees,theunprepossessinghousesandtheridiculouslayoutofthetown.Tarroualsoincludesconversationsoverheardintramsoronthestreet,withnocommentexceptalittlelater,inthecaseofonesuchexchangeaboutacertainCamps.Tarrouhadheardtwotramconductorstalking:
"YouknewCamps,didn’tyou,"oneofthemsaid.
"Camps?Atallfellowwithablackmoustache?"
"That’stheone.Hewasonpoints."
"Yes,ofcourseIdid."
"Well,he’sdead."
"Oh!Whenwasthat?"
"Afterthebusinesswiththerats."
"Well,well.Whatwaswrongwithhim?"
"Idon’tknow;atemperature.Andthen,hewasn’tstrong.Hehadabscessesunderhisarms.Hecouldn’tfightitoff."
"Evenso,heseemedlikeanyoneelse."
"No,hehadaweakchest.Andheplayedmusicforthechoir.
