Чума
Part I
"Theycan’tharmasickman,amanwhohangedhimself,canthey,doctor?"
Rieuxlookedathimforamomentandfinallyassuredhimthattherehadneverbeenanyquestionofanythinglikethat—apartfromwhich,hewastheretolookafterhispatient.ThemanseemedtorelaxandRieuxwenttofetchthecommissioner.
Grand’stestimonywasreadtoCottardandtheyaskedifhecouldtellthempreciselywhyhehaddonewhathedid.Hesimplyreplied,withoutlookingatthecommissioner,that"personalsorrowswasquiteright".Thecommissionerurgedhimtosayifheintendedtotryagain.Cottardsaid,emphatically,thathedidnotandthatallhewantedwastobeleftinpeace.
"Imustpointout",thecommissionersaid,withirritationinhisvoice,"thatjustnowitisyouwhoaredisturbingthepeaceofothers."
HeaskedthedoctorifthematterwasseriousandRieuxsaidthathehadnoidea.
"It’stheweather,that’sall,"thecommissionerconcluded.
Andnodoubtitwastheweather.Everythingstucktoone’shandsasthedaywentonandRieuxfeltagrowingsenseofforebodingwitheveryvisithemade.Thatsameday,ontheoutskirtsofthetown,oneoftheoldman’sneighbours,delirious,pressedhisgroinandstartedtovomit.Hislymphnodeswerelargerthantheconcierge’s.Oneofthemhadalreadybeguntosuppurateandsoonburstopenlikearottenfruit.
