Чума
Part IV
Thepriestwasstretchedout,motionless.Thecongestionandflushingofthedaybeforehadgivenwaytoasortoflividcolourwhichwasallthemorenoticeablesincethefeatureswerestillpuffy.Hewasstaringatthelittlelampofmulticolouredglassbeadshangingoverthebed.Whentheoldladycameinheturnedtowardsher.Accordingtoheraccount,helookedatthatmomentasthoughhehadbeenbeatenallnightandhadlostanystrengthtoreact.Sheaskedhimhowhewas.Inavoicewhich,shesaid,hadastrangelyindifferentsound,hesaidthathewasill,thathedidnotneedadoctorandthatitwouldbeenoughtotakehimtothehospitalforeverythingtobeinorder.Horrified,theoldladyrantothetelephone.
Rieuxarrivedatnoon.Whenthelandladytoldhimwhathadhappened,hesaidsimplythatPanelouxwasrightandthatitwasprobablytoolate.Thepriestgreetedhimwiththesameairofindifference.Rieuxexaminedhimandwassurprisednottofindanyofthemainsymptomsofbubonicorpulmonaryplague,exceptcongestionandadifficultyinbreathing.Inanycase,thepulsewassoslowandthegeneralstateofhealthsoalarmingthattherewaslittlehope.
"Youhavenoneofthemainsymptomsofthedisease,"hetoldPaneloux."Buttotellthetruth,thereissomedoubtandImustputyouinisolation."
Thepriestgaveanoddsmile,asthoughoutofpoliteness,butsaidnothing.Rieuxlefttomakeatelephonecallandcameback.Helookedatthepriest.
