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           Theresthangbythreadsandimperceptiblemovements;onecouldnotdwellonit.Themainthingwastodoone’sjobwell.

           ***

           DrRieuxhadreachedthispointinhisthoughtswhenJosephGrandwasannounced.AlthoughhewasonthestaffoftheHôteldeVilleandhisdutiestherewereveryvaried,hewasoccasionallyusedbythestatisticalserviceoftheregistryofbirths,marriagesanddeaths.Becauseofthishehadbeenaddingupthenumberofdeathcertificatesand,beingnaturallyobliging,hehadagreedtobringacopyofhisresultstoRieuxinperson.

           ThedoctorsawGrandcomeinwithhisneighbourCottard.Thecivilservantwaswavingasheetofpaper.

           "Thefiguresarerising,doctor,"heannounced."Elevendeathsinforty-eighthours."

           RieuxgreetedCottardandaskedhimhowhewas.GrandexplainedthatCottardwantedtothankthedoctorandtoapologizeforthetroublehehadcausedhim.ButRieuxwaslookingatthesheetoffigures.

           "Well,now,"hesaid."Perhapsweshouldmakeupourmindstocallthisdiseasebyitspropername.Sofar,wehavebeenkickingourheels.Butcomewithme,Ihavetogotothelaboratory."

           "Yes,yes,"Grandsaid,comingdownstairsafterthedoctor."Wemustcallthingsbytheirpropername.Butwhatisthename?"

           "Ican’ttellyou.Inanycase,itwouldbenousetoyou."

           "Yousee,"themansaid."Itisn’tthateasy.