Чума
Part I
Rieuxthoughtitwassillyofhim,butitdidhelpremindhimthathehadpromisedtovisitthesalesman.
ThateveningthedoctorfoundCottardstandingathisdining-roomtable.WhenRieuxcameintherewasanopendetectivenovelinfrontofhim,butitwasalreadyquitelateintheafternoonanditwouldhavebeenhardtoreadinthegatheringdarkness.Rather,aminuteearlier,Cottardmusthavebeenmeditatinginthehalf-light.Rieuxaskedhowhewas.Cottardsatdownandgrowledthathewaswell,butthathewouldbebetterstillifhecouldbesurethatnoonewastakinganinterestinhim.Rieuxpointedoutthatonecouldnotalwaysbealone.
"Oh,it’snotthat.I’mtalkingaboutpeoplewhoareinterestedincausingyoutrouble."
Rieuxsaidnothing.
"Mindyou,thisisnotmysituation,butIwasreadingthisnovel.Hereisanunfortunatemanwhogetsarrestedsuddenlyonemorning.Peopleweretakinganinterestinhimandheknewnothingaboutit.Theyweretalkingabouthiminoffices,writinghisnameonindexcards.Doyouthinkthat’sfair?Doyouthinkanyonehasarighttodothattoaman?"
"Thatdepends,"Rieuxsaid."Ofcourse,inonesense,oneneverhasthatright.Butallthatisbytheway.Youshouldn’tstaycoopedupfortoolong.Yououghttogoout."
Cottardseemedtogetangryatthis,sayingthathewasalwaysgoingoutand,ifneedbe,hecouldgetthewholeneighbourhoodtotestifytoit.
