Чума
Part IV
Itwasanimportantcase,inthecircuitcourt,andhemusthavebelievedthathewouldappearinthebestlight.Ithinkhewasalsocountingonthisceremonial—justthesortofthingthatmightimpressayoungmind—tonudgemeinthedirectionofthecareerthathehimselfhadchosen.Iaccepted,topleasemyfatherandbecauseIwascurioustoseeandhearhiminadifferentrolefromtheonethatheplayedathome.Iwasnotthinkingofanythingmorethanthat.WhathappenedinacourtroomhadalwaysstruckmeasnolessnaturalandinevitablethanaFourteenthofJulyparadeoraprize-giving.Ihadaveryabstractideaofit,whichdidnotdisturbmeatall.
"However,Ihavekeptonlyoneimageofthatday,whichisthatoftheguiltyman.Ireallydobelievehewasguilty,thoughitdoesn’tmatterofwhat.Butthislittlemanwithhismeagreredhair,somethirtyyearsofage,seemedsodeterminedtoadmittoeverything,sosincerelyterrifiedbywhathehaddoneandwhattheyweregoingtodotohim,thatafterafewminutesIhadeyesonlyforhim.Helookedlikeanowlstrickenwithfearbyanover-brightlight.Theknotofhistiewasnotpreciselyinthecentreofhiscollar.Hewaschewingthenailsofjustonehand,theright…Well,Ineedsaynomore—youunderstand,hewasalive.
"ButIsuddenlybecameawareofhim,thoughuptothenIhadonlythoughtofhimintheconvenientcategoryof"theaccused".
