Чума
Part IV
"Ishallstaybesideyou,"hesaidsoftly.
Theothermanseemedtoreviveandturnedtowardsthedoctorwitheyestowhichasortofwarmthseemedtohavereturned.Thenhepronouncedthefollowingwithdifficultyandinsuchawaythatitwasimpossibletoknowifhewasspeakingwithsadnessornot:
"Thankyou,"hesaid."Butpriestshavenofriends.TheyhavegiveneverythingtoGod."
Heaskedforthecrucifixwhichwasattheheadofthebedandwhenhehaditturnedtolookatit.
InthehospitalPanelouxkepthisteethclenched.Hegavehimselfuplikeanobjecttoallthetreatmenthehadtoendurebutdidnotletgoofthecrucifix.However,thepriest’scaseremainedambiguous.Rieuxwasstillnotcertaininhismind.Itwastheplagueandyetitwasn’t.Asamatteroffact,forsometimethediseasehadseemedtoenjoyupsettingmedicaldiagnosis.ButinPaneloux’scasetheoutcomewouldshowthatthisuncertaintywaswithoutimportance.
Thetemperaturerose.Thecoughgrewmoreandmorehoarseandtorturedthepatientthroughouttheday.Finally,intheevening,thepriestcoughedupthecottonwoolthathadbeensuffocatinghim.Itwasred.InthemidstofhisragingfeverPanelouxkepthislookofindifferenceandwhen,thefollowingday,theyfoundhimdead,half-fallingoutofthebed,therewasnothingtobereadinhisexpression.Theywroteonhiscard:"Doubtfulcase.
