Чума
Part I
Ifyouaddtothisportraithismannerofwalkinglikeayoungpriest,hisabilitytohugthewallsandslidethroughdoorways,hisodourofsmokeandcellars,andeveryappearanceofinsignificance,youwillagreethathecouldnotbeimaginedanywhereexceptbehindadesk,earnestlyrevisingthepricesofpublicbathsinthetownorputtingtogetherthematerialsforareport,tobewrittenbysomeyoungsuperior,aboutthenewtaxonthecollectionofhouseholdwaste.Evenforsomeonenotintheknow,heappearedtohavebeenputinthisworldinordertocarryouttheunobtrusivebutindispensableroleofatemporarymunicipalclerkearningsixty-twofrancsthirtyaday.
Thiswasinfactthetermthathesaidheputonemploymentformsafterthewords"presentpost".When,twenty-twoyearsearlier,havingcompletedafirstdegreebutunabletostudyfurtherbecauseoflackoffunds,hehadacceptedthisjob,hesaidthathehadbeenledtohopethatitwouldsoonbecomeapermanentappointment.Itwasjustamatterofprovingforacertaintimethathewascompetenttodealwiththedelicatequestionsinvolvedinadministeringourtown.Afterthat,hehadbeenassured,hecouldnotfailtobegrantedapostasreport-writerwhichwouldgivehimacomfortableliving.ItwascertainlynotambitionthatdroveJosephGrand,hevouchedforthatwithamelancholysmile.Buthewasmuchgladdenedbytheprospectofabetterlife,supportedbyhonestmeans,andasaconsequencethepossibilityofindulgingwithoutcompunctioninhisfavouritepastimes.
