Чума
Part V
Consequently,inthemidstofquitelongpassagesaboutthecaseofCottard,onefindsalittlereportontheoldmanandthecats.AccordingtoTarrou,theplaguehaddonenothingtodiminishhisrespectforthischaracter,whointerestedhimnolessaftertheepidemicthanhehaddonebefore,butunfortunatelyhecouldnotcontinuetointeresthim,eventhoughhis,Tarrou’s,goodwillwasnotindoubt.Becausehehadtriedtoseehimagain.AfewdaysaftertheeveningofJanuary25,hehadstationedhimselfatthecornerofthelittlestreet.Thecatswerethere,asappointed,warmingthemselvesinpatchesofsun.Butattheusualtimetheshuttersremainedobstinatelyclosed.OverthefollowingdaysTarrouneversawthemopenagain.Oddly,hehaddecidedthattheoldmanwaseitherannoyedordead,andthatifhewasannoyed,thenhethoughthewasintherightandthattheplaguehaddonehimwrong;butifhewasdead,thenonemustwonder—asonedidabouttheoldasthmatic—whetherhewasasaint.Tarroudidnotthinkso,butconsideredthattherewas,inthecaseoftheoldman,a"sign"."Perhaps",thenotebooksobserve,"onecanonlyconcludeatsomeapproximationtosainthood.Inthatcase,weshalljusthavetobecontentwithaformofmodestandcharitableSatanism.
