Чума
Part I
AfterthatGrandwouldpointouttoRieuxotherchangesinCottard’spersonality.Cottardhadalwaysheldveryliberalopinions;hisfavouriteremark,"bigfishalwayseatlittleones",provedthat.ButrecentlyhehadonlybeenbuyingthemostconservativepaperinOranandonecouldnothelpfeelingthathequitedeliberatelyreaditinpublicplaces.Similarly,afewdaysaftergettingup,heaskedGrand,whowasgoingtothepostoffice,tobekindenoughtodispatchapostalorderforthehundredfrancsthathesenteverymonthtoasister,livingsomewherefaraway.ButjustasGrandwasleaving,Cottardsaid:
"Sendhertwohundredfrancs.Itwillbeanicesurpriseforher.SheimaginesthatIneverthinkabouther,butthetruthisthatI’mveryfondofher."
FinallyhehadanoddconversationwithGrand.Cottardwasveryintriguedbythework,whateveritwas,thatoccupiedGrandeveryevening,andhadmadeGrandanswerhisquestionsaboutit.
"So,"Cottardsaid."You’rewritingabook."
"Ifyoulike,butit’smorecomplicatedthanthat."
"Oh!"Cottardexclaimed."IwishIcoulddowhatyou’redoing."
GrandseemedsurprisedandCottardstammeredoutthatbeinganartistmustmakelotsofthingseasier.
"Why?"Grandasked.
"Well,becauseanartisthasmorerightsthanotherpeople,aseveryoneknows.Hecangetawaywithlotsofthings.
