Чума
Part V
InfrontofTarrouhehadengagedinconversationswiththeshopkeepersofhisarea,inwhichhetriedtospreadRieux’sopinion.Admittedly,hehadnodifficultyindoingsobecause,afterthethrillofthefirstvictories,doubthadreturnedtomanymindsandwastosurvivetheexcitementcausedbythedeclarationfromthePrefecture.Cottardwasreassuredbythesightofthisanxiety.But,atothertimes,hewasdowncast."Yes,"hetoldTarrou."Theywillopenthegateseventuallyand,you’llsee,they’llalldropme!"
UptoJanuary25,everyonenoticedtheinstabilityofhischaracter.Forwholedaysonend,afterhavingforsolongtriedtogetongoodtermswithhisacquaintancesandneighbours,heopenlyquarrelledwiththem.Atleastinappearanceheretiredfromtheworldandfromonedaytothenextstartedtolivelikeawildanimal.Henolongerappearedinrestaurants,atthetheatreorinhisfavouritecafes.Yetheseemedunabletoresumethesensible,obscurelifethathehadledbeforetheepidemic.Helivedcompletelyshutupinhisapartmentandhadhismealssentupfromanearbyrestaurant.Onlyintheeveningdidhemakefurtivesortiestobuywhatheneeded,emergingfromtheshopstohurrydownemptystreets.IfTarroushouldmeethimonsuchoccasions,hecouldonlygetmonosyllablesoutofhim.Then,withoutanyperiodoftransition,hebecamesociableagain,talkingvolublyabouttheplague,askingeveryonefortheiropinionandhappilyreturningeveryeveningintothecrowd.
