Чума
Part IV
TheyhadopenedanewhospitalandRieuxhadnofurtherprivatetalksexceptwithhispatients.Hedidnote,however,thatatthisstageintheepidemic,whentheplaguewasincreasinglyadoptingthepulmonaryform,thepatientsseemedinawaytohelpthedoctor.Insteadofgivingwaytotheprostrationandmadnessoftheearlydays,theyseemedtohaveabetterideaoftheirowninterests,anddemandedoftheirownaccordwhatwouldbemostbeneficialtothem.Theycontinuallyaskedforwaterandallwantedheat.Althoughthedoctorfeltthesametiredness,hedidfeellessaloneinthesecircumstances.
TowardstheendofDecemberRieuxreceivedaletterfromM.Othon,theexaminingmagistrate,whowasstillinhiscamp.Thelettersaidthathisperiodofquarantinewasover,thatthecampauthoritiescouldnotfindthedateofhisfirstinternmentandthat,surely,hewasbeingkeptinthecampbymistake.Hiswife,whohadbeenoutforsometime,protestedtothePrefecture,butshewasgivenshortshriftthereandtoldthatmistakeswerenevermade.RieuxgotRamberttointerveneandafewdayslatersawM.Othonarriving.TherehadindeedbeenamistakeandRieuxwasslightlyindignantaboutit.ButM.Othon,whohadgrownthinner,raisedalimphandandsaidverydeliberatelythatanyonecouldmakeamistake.Thedoctorfeltthatsomethinghadchanged.
"Whatareyougoingtodo,Judge?Yourfilesawaityou,"saidRieux.
"Well,no,"saidthemagistrate."I’dliketotakeaholiday.
