Чума
Part I
"Andthen,you’reingoodcompany."
GrandhadnoticedthatthestaffwereparticularlyattentivetothesalesmanandunderstoodwhywhenhesawthehugetipsthatCottardleft.Heseemedparticularlyappreciativeoftheattentionthathegotinreturn.Oneday,whenthemaîtred’hôtelhadseenhimtothedoorandhelpedhimtoputonhisovercoat,CottardsaidtoGrand:
"He’sagoodlad,hewouldtestify."
"Testifytowhat?"
Cottardhesitated.
"Well,thatI’mnotabadperson."
Apartfromthat,hehadsuddenmoods.Onedaywhenthegrocerhadappearedlessfriendly,hereturnedhomeinaquitedisproportionatefitofanger.
"He’sgoingovertotheothers,thattoad,"hesaidoverandagain.
"Whatothers?"
"Allofthem."
Grandhadevenwitnessedacurioussceneatthetobacconist’s.Inthemiddleofaheatedconversation,shehadspokenaboutarecentarrestthathadcausedastirinAlgiers.ItinvolvedayoungcompanyemployeewhohadkilledanArabonabeach.
"Iftheyputallthatscuminprison,"thetobacconistsaid,"respectablepeoplecouldsleepeasy."
ButshestoppedwhenshesawCottardsuddenlybecomeveryagitatedandrushoutofhershopwithoutawordofapology.Grandandthewomanwereleftwiththeirarmsdangling,watchinghimvanish.
