Парфюмер. История одного убийцы

           Therearehundredsofexcellentfostermotherswhowouldscrambleforthechanceofputtingthischarmingbabetotheirbreastforthreefrancsaweek,ortosupplyhimwithpaporjuicesorwhatevernourishment…”“Thengivehimtooneofthem!”“…Ontheotherhand,it’snotgoodtopassachildaroundlikethat.Whoknowsifhewouldflourishaswellonsomeoneelse’smilkasonyours.He’susedtothesmellofyourbreast,asyousurelyknow,andtothebeatofyourheart.”Andonceagainheinhaleddeeplyofthewarmvaporsstreamingfromthewetnurse.Butthen,noticingthathiswordshadmadenoimpressiononher,hesaid,“Nowtakethechildhomewithyou!I’llspeaktotheprioraboutallthis.Ishallsuggesttohimthatinthefutureyoubegivenfourfrancsaweek.”“No,”saidthewetnurse.“Allright-five!”“No.”“Howmuchmoredoyouwant,then?”Terriershoutedather.“Fivefrancsisapileofmoneyforthemenialtaskoffeedingababy.”“Idon’twantanymoney,period,”saidthewetnurse.“Iwantthisbastardoutofmyhouse.”“Butwhy,mygoodwoman?”saidTerrier,pokinghisfingerinthebasketagain.“Hereallyisanadorablechild.He’srosypink,hedoesn’tcry,andhe’sbeenbaptized.”“He’spossessedbythedevil.”Terrierquicklywithdrewhisfingerfromthebasket.“Impossible!Itisabsolutelyimpossibleforaninfanttobepossessedbythedevil.Aninfantisnotyetahumanbeing;itisaprehumanbeinganddoesnotyetpossessafullydevelopedsoul.Whichiswhyitisofnointeresttothedevil.