Assoonastheyhadgreetedeachother - - ."Itisnecessary," hesaidwithatiredgulp, "itisnecessaryformypeaceofmind." -onein."What'sthisthatI'vebeenhearing, Josef?" criedK.'sunclewhentheywerealone, , heknewwhatwascoming, but, suddenlyrelievedfromtheeffortoftheworkhehadbeendoing, , hecouldseejustasmall, triangularsectionofit, partoftheemptywallsofhousesbetweentwoshopwindows."You'restaringoutthewindow!" calledouthisuncle, raisinghisarms, "ForGod'ssake, Josef, givemeananswer! Isittrue, canitreallybetrue?" "UncleKarl," saidK., wrenchinghimselfbackfromhisdaydreaming, "Ireallydon'tknowwhatitisyouwantofme." "Josef," saidhisuncleinawarningtone, "asfarasIknow, you''vejustsaidasabadsign?" "IthinkIknowwhatitisyouwant," , "Iexpectyou'veheardaboutmytrial." "That'sright," answeredhisunclewithaslownod, "I'veheardaboutyourtrial." "Whodidyouhearitfrom, then?" askedK."Ernawrotetome," saidhisuncle, "shedoesn'thavemuchcontactwithyou, it'strue, youdon'tpayverymuchattentiontoher, I'mafraidtosay, , ofcourse, , ." Hedrewtheletteroutfromhiswallet."; 'IhavenotseenJosefforalongtime, IwasinthebanklastweekbutJosefwassobusythattheywouldnotletmethrough; , -day, , , asIamsureyouareaware, disappearsstraightawayinthislodginghouse, , , asitwasprobablyaboutthelegalproceedings, hesaid, , andwhetherhewasnotmakingsomemistake, buthesaidhewasnotmakinganymistake, therewerelegalproceedingsunderwayandeventhattheywereaboutsomethingquiteserious, , asthechiefclerkwasagentleman, goodandhonest, buthedidnotknowwhatitwashecoulddoandmerelyhopedtherewouldbesomeinfluentialgentlemenwhowouldtakehisside.I'msurethatiswhatwillhappenandthateverythingwillturnoutforthebestintheend, butinthemeantimethingsdonotlookatallgood, , Ididnotplacetoomuchimportanceonthisconversation, andevendidmybesttoputthebankclerk'smindatrest, , andIthinkitisalljustarumour, butIstillthinkitmightbegoodifyou, DearFather, , ifitisreallynecessary, , andthatiswhatseemsmostlikely, thenatleastyourdaughterwillsoonhavethechancetoembraceyouandIlookforwardtoit.' - She'sagoodchild," saidK.'sunclewhenhehadfinishedreading, , evenherbirthday, andthestoryofthechocolateshadclearlyjustbeeninventedsothathewouldn', andeventhetheatretickets, whichhewouldregularlysendherfromthenon, wouldnotbeenoughtorepayher, buthereallydidnotfeel, now, thatitwasrightforhimtovisitherinherlodgingsandholdconversationswithalittle, eighteenyearoldschoolgirl."Andwhatdoyouhavetosayaboutthat?" askedhisuncle, whohadforgottenallhisrushandexcitementashereadtheletter, andseemedtobeabouttoreaditagain."Yes, Uncle," saidK., "itistrue." "True!" calledouthisuncle."Whatistrue? Howcanthisbetrue? Whatsortoftrialisit? Notacriminaltrial, Ihope?" "It'sacriminaltrial," answeredK."Andyousitquietlyherewhileyou'vegotacriminaltrialroundyourneck?" shoutedhisuncle, gettingeverlouder."ThemorecalmIam, thebetteritwillbefortheoutcome," , "don'tworry." "HowcanIhelpworrying?!" shoutedhisuncle, "Josef, myDearJosef, thinkaboutyourself, aboutyourfamily, thinkaboutourgoodname! Uptillnow, you'vealwaysbeenourpride, don''tlikethewayyou'rebehaving," hesaid, , "that'snothowaninnocentmanbehaveswhenhe'saccusedofsomething, notifhe'''ssomethingtodowiththebank, Itakeit?" "No," , "andyou'respeakingtooloud, Uncle, 'sbestifwegosomewhereelse, thenIcananswerallyourquestions, ." "Youcertainlydo!" hisuncleshouted, "Quiteright, , Josef, hurryupnow!" "IstillhaveafewdocumentsIneedtoprepare," saidK., and, usingtheintercom, hesummonedhisdeputywhoenteredafewmomentslater.K.'suncle, stillangryandexcited, , , wholistenedcalmandattentive, whatwouldneedtobedonethatdayinhisabsence, .'sunclewhilethiswasgoingonwasquitedisturbing; hedidnotlistentowhatwasbeingsaid, , stoppednowandthenatthewindow, orstoodinfrontofapicturealwaysmakingvariousexclamationssuchas, "Thatistotallyincomprehensibletome!" or "Nowjusttellme, whatareyousupposedtomakeofthat?!" TheyoungmanpretendedtonoticenothingofthisandlistenedtoK.'sinstructionsthroughtotheend, hemadeafewnotes, .K.'sunclehadturnedhisbacktohimandwaslookingoutthewindow, , "Atlast! Nowthathe'sstoppedjumpingaboutwecangotoo!" Oncetheywereinthefronthallofthebank, whereseveralmembersofstaffwerestandingaboutandwhere, justthen, thedeputydirectorwaswalkingacross, therewasunfortunatelynowayofstoppingK.'sunclefromcontinuallyaskingquestionsaboutthetrial."Nowthen, Josef," hebegan, lightlyacknowledgingthebowsfromthosearoundthemastheypassed, "tellmeeverythingaboutthistrial; whatsortoftrialisit?" , evenlaughedalittle, anditwasonlywhentheyreachedthefrontstepsthatheexplainedtohisunclethathehadnotwantedtotalkopenlyinfrontofthosepeople."Quiteright," saidhisuncle, "butnowstarttalking." Withhisheadtooneside, andsmokinghiscigarinshort, impatientdraughts, helistened."Firstofall, Uncle," saidK., "it'snotatriallikeyou'dhaveinanormalcourtroom." "Somuchtheworse," saidhisuncle."How'sthat?" askedK., lookingathim."WhatImeanis, that'sfortheworse," ; , .'sarmandstoppedaskingquestionswithsuchurgencyaboutthetrial, theywalkedonforawhileinsilence."Buthowdidallthiscomeabout?" heeventuallyasked, stoppingabruptlyenoughtostartlethepeoplewalkingbehind, whohadtoavoidwalkingintohim."Thingslikethisdon'tcomeallofasudden, theystartdevelopingalongtimebeforehand, theremusthavebeenwarningsignsofit, whydidn'tyouwritetome? YouknowI'ddoanythingforyou, tosomeextentIamstillyourguardian, anduntiltodaythat'ssomethingIwasproudof.I'llstillhelpyou, ofcourseIwill, onlynow, nowthatthetrialisalreadyunderway, ; 'velostweight, , thatwillbegood, there''llbeawayofgettingyouawayfromthecourt, 'vegoteverymeansofshowingthepowersattheirdisposalandthey'reautomaticallyboundtousethemagainstyou; inthecountrythey'lleitherhavetodelegateauthoritytodifferentbodiesorjusthavetotryandbotheryoubyletter, 'sboundtoweakentheeffect, itwon'treleaseyoufromthembutit'llgiveyouroomtobreathe." "Youcouldforbidmetoleave," saidK., whohadbeendrawnslightlyintohisuncle'swayofthinkingbywhathehadbeensaying."Ididn'tthinkyouwoulddoit," saidhisunclethoughtfully, "youwon'tsuffertoomuchlossofpowerbymovingaway." , "Ithoughtyou'dthinkallthisislessimportantthanIdo, andnowyou'retakingitsohard." "Josef," calledhisuncletryingtodisentanglehimselffromhimsothathecouldstopwalking, , "you'vecompletelychanged, youusedtobesoastute, areyoulosingitnow? Doyouwanttolosethetrial? Doyourealisewhatthatwouldmean? , , 'resoindifferentaboutit, it': 'Havingatriallikethatmeanslosingatriallikethat'." "MydearUncle," saidK., "itwon'tdoanygoodtogetexcited, it'snogoodforyoutodoitandit''tbewonbygettingexcited, andpleaseadmitthatmypracticalexperiencecountsforsomething, justasIhavealwaysandstilldorespectyourexperience, ; Ireallycan'tseehow, butthat'sbesidethepointandI', Idon'tseeanyadvantageinstayinginthecountry, notevenforyou, , althoughIammoresubjecttopersecutionifIstayinthecityIcanalsopressthematterforwardbetterhere." "You'reright," saidhisuncleinatonethatseemedtoindicatetheywerefinallycomingclosertoeachother, "Ijustmadethesuggestionbecause, asIsawit, ifyoustayinthecitythecasewillbeputindangerbyyourindifferencetoit, , ifso, thatwillnaturallybefarbetter." "We'reagreedthen," saidK."AnddoyouhaveanysuggestionsforwhatIshoulddonext?" "Well, naturallyI'llhavetothinkaboutit," saidhisuncle, "youmustbearinmindthatI'vebeenlivinginthecountryfortwentyyearsnow, almostwithoutabreak, , Iexpect, knowtheirwayaroundthesethingsbetterthanIdo, 'vebeengettingoutofcondition, I'msureyou'', although, oddlyenough, IhadexpectedsomethingofthesortafterI'dreadErna'sletter, , theimportantthingnowis, wehavenotimetolose." Evenwhilehewasstillspeaking, K.'."We', thelawyer," hesaid, "wewereatschooltogether.I'msureyouknowthename, don'tyou? No? '." "It'salrightwithme, whateveryoudo," saidK., , astheaccused, betotakentoalawyerforpoorpeople."Ididn'tknow," hesaid, "thatyoucouldtakeonalawyerinmatterslikethis." "Wellofcourseyoucan," saidhisuncle, "'tyoutakeonalawyer? Andnow, sothatI'mproperlyinstructedinthismatter, tellmewhat'sbeenhappeningsofar." , holdingnothingback - 'sbeliefthatthetrialwasagreatdisgrace.HementionedMissBürstner'snamejustonceandinpassing, butthatdidnothingtodiminishhisopennessaboutthetrialasMissBürstnerhadnoconnectionwithit.Ashespoke, helookedoutthewindowandsawhow, justthen, 'sattention, .K.'suncleknockedattheveryfirstdooratgroundlevel; whiletheywaitedhesmiled, showinghisbigteeth, andwhispered, "Eighto'clock; nottheusualsortoftimetobevisitingalawyer, butHuldwon'tminditfromme." Twolarge, blackeyesappearedinthespy-hatchinthedoor, theystaredatthetwovisitorsforawhileandthendisappeared; thedoor, however, ."Anewmaid, afraidofstrangers," saidK.'suncle, , buttheopengasflamethatburnedwithahisscloseabovetheirheadsgaveofflittlelightandthatmayhavemerelycreatedanillusion."Openthedoor," calledK.'suncle, raisinghisfistagainstit, ", thelawyer!" "," , givingthemthisinformationinanextremelyquietvoice.K.'suncle, whohadalreadybeenmadeveryangrybythelongwait, turnedabruptlyroundandretorted, "Ill? Yousayhe'sill?" andstrodetowardsthegentlemaninawaythatseemedalmostthreatening, asifheweretheillnesshimself."They'veopenedthedoorforyou, now," saidthegentleman, , ayounggirl - , slightlybulgingeyes - stoodinthehallwayinalongwhiteapron, holdingacandleinherhand."Nexttime, openupsooner!" saidK.'suncleinsteadofagreeting, whilethegirlmadeaslightcurtsey."Comealong, Josef," ."," saidthegirlasK.'suncle, withoutstopping, , shehadaroundfacelikeapuppy's, notonlythepalecheeksandthechinwereroundbutthetemplesandthehairlineweretoo."Josef!" calledhisuncleoncemore, andheaskedthegirl, "It'stroublewithhisheart, isit?" "Ithinkitis, sir," saidthegirl, , wherethelightofthecandledidnotreach, afacewithalongbeardlookedupfromthebed."Leni, who'sthiscomingin?" askedthelawyer, unabletorecognisehisguestsbecausehewasdazzledbythecandle."It'syouroldfriend, Albert," saidK.'suncle."Oh, Albert," saidthelawyer, fallingbackontohispillowasifthisvisitmeanthewouldnotneedtokeepupappearances."Isitreallyasbadasthat?" askedK.'suncle, sittingontheedgeofthebed."Idon''sarecurrenceofyourhearttroubleandit'llpassoverliketheothertimes." "Maybe," saidthelawyerquietly, "butit'sjustasmuchtroubleasit', Ican'tsleepatallandI'mgettingweakerbytheday." "Isee," saidK.'suncle, pressinghispanamahatfirmlyagainsthiskneewithhisbighand."? Andit'ssodepressinginhere, it''salongtimesinceIwaslasthere, 'tseemtohavemuchlifeinher, unlessshe'sjustpretending." Themaidwasstillstandingbythedoorwiththecandle; asfarascouldbemadeout, ."Whenyou'reasillasIam," saidthelawyer, "'tfinditdepressing." Afterashortpauseheadded, "andLenilooksaftermewell, she'sagoodgirl." ButthatwasnotenoughtopersuadeK.'suncle, hehadvisiblytakenagainsthisfriend'scarerand, eventhoughhedidnotcontradicttheinvalid, hepersecutedherwithhisscowlasshewentovertothebed, putthecandleonthebedsidetableand, leaningoverthebed, madeafussofhimbytidyingthepillows.K.'sunclenearlyforgottheneedtoshowanyconsiderationforthemanwholayillinbed, hestoodup, walkedupanddownbehindthecarer, , hewasnotevendisappointedatfindingthelawyerunwell, hehadbeenabletodonothingtoopposetheenthusiasmhisunclehaddevelopedforthematter, , probablysimplywishingtobeoffensivetothelawyer'sattendant, thensaid, "Younglady, nowpleaseleaveusaloneforawhile, Ihavesomepersonalmatterstodiscusswithmyfriend." 'scarerwasstillleantfarovertheinvalid'sbedandsmoothingouttheclothcoveringthewallnexttoit, shemerelyturnedherheadandthen, instrikingcontrastwiththeangerthatfirststoppedK.'sunclefromspeakingandthenletthewordsoutinagush, shesaidveryquietly, "'tdiscussanymattersatall." ItwasprobablyjustforthesakeofconveniencethatshehadrepeatedthewordsspokenbyK.'suncle, butanonlookermightevenhaveperceiveditasmockinghimandhe, ofcourse, jumpedupasifhehadjustbeenstabbed."Youdamned …," inthefirstgurglingsofhisexcitementhiswordscouldhardlybeunderstood, , nodoubt, , though, behindthegirl, theinvalidraisedhimselfup, K.'sunclemadeanuglyfaceasifswallowingsomethingdisgustingandthen, somewhatcalmer, said, "Wehavenaturallynotlostoursenses, notyet; , go!" ThecarerstoodupstraightbythebeddirectlyfacingK.'suncle, 'shand."YoucansayanythinginfrontofLeni," saidtheinvalid, inatonethatwasunmistakablyimploring."It'snotmybusiness," saidK.'suncle, "andit'snotmysecrets." Andhetwistedhimselfroundasifwantingtogointonomorenegotiationsbutgivinghimselfalittlemoretimetothink."Whosebusinessisitthen?" askedthelawyerinanexhaustedvoiceasheleantbackagain."Mynephew's," saidK.'suncle, "andI'vebroughthimalongwithme." Andheintroducedhim, "ChiefClerkJosefK." "Oh!" saidtheinvalid, nowwithmuchmorelifeinhim, andreachedouthishandtowardsK."Doforgiveme, Ididn'tnoticeyouthereatall." Thenhethensaidtohiscarer, "Leni, go," ."Soyou," hefinallysaidtoK.'suncle, whohadalsocalmeddownandsteppedcloser, "youhaven'tcometovisitmebecauseI'millbutyou'vecomeonbusiness." Thelawyernowlookedsomuchstrongerthatitseemedtheideaofbeingvisitedbecausehewasillhadsomehowmadehimweak, heremainedsupportinghimselfofoneelbow, whichmusthavebeenrathertiring, andcontinuallypulledatalockofhairinthemiddleofhisbeard."Youalreadylookmuchbetter," saidK.'suncle, "nowthatthatwitchhasgoneoutside." Heinterruptedhimself, whispered, "Ibetyoushe'slistening!" -one, K.'sunclecamebacknotdisappointed, ashernotlisteningseemedtohimworsethanifshehadbeen, butprobablysomewhatembittered."You'remistakenabouther," saidthelawyer, butdidnothingmoretodefendher; , "Asfarasyournephew'saffairsareconcerned, thiswillbeanextremelydifficultundertakingandI'dcountmyselfluckyifmystrengthlastedoutlongenoughforit; I'mgreatlyafraiditwon'tdo, butanywayIdon'twanttoleaveanythinguntried; ifIdon', thismatterinterestsmetoomuch, andIcan'." , helookedathisuncleforanexplanationbuthisunclesatonthebedsidetablewiththecandleinhishand, amedicinebottlehadrolledoffthetableontothefloor, henoddedtoeverythingthelawyersaid, agreedtoeverything, .', , "Idon'tunderstand …" "Well, maybeI'vemisunderstoodwhatyou'vebeensaying," saidthelawyer, justasastonishedandembarrassedasK."PerhapsI'? Ithoughtitwastodowithyourtrial." "Ofcourseitis," saidK.'suncle, whothenaskedK., "Sowhatisityouwant?" "Yes, buthowisitthatyouknowanythingaboutmeandmycase?" askedK."Oh, Isee," saidthelawyerwithasmile."Iamalawyer, Imoveincourtcircles, peopletalkaboutvariousdifferentcasesandthemoreinterestingonesstayinyourmind, 'snothingveryremarkableaboutthat." "Whatisityouwant, then?" askedK.'suncleoncemore, "Youseemsouneasyaboutit" "Youmoveinthiscourt'scircles?" askedK."Yes," saidthelawyer."You'reaskingquestionslikeachild," saidK.'suncle."WhatcirclesshouldImovein, then, ifnotwithmembersofmyowndiscipline?" ."ButyouworkintheHighCourt, notthatcourtintheattic," hehadwantedtosaybutcouldnotbringhimselftoactuallyutterit."Youhavetorealise," thelawyercontinued, inatoneasifhewereexplainingsomethingobvious, unnecessaryandincidental, "youhavetorealisethatIalsoderivegreatadvantageformyclientsfrommixingwiththosepeople, anddosoinmanydifferentways, it'snotsomethingyoucankeeptalkingaboutallthetime.I'matabitofadisadvantagenow, ofcourse, becauseofmyillness, 'mreceivingaverywelcomevisitrightnow, forinstance." Andhepointedintoadarkcorneroftheroom."Where?" askedK., ; , .', , byflappinghishandsaboutlikeshortwings, hehopedtodeflectanyintroductionsandgreetings, , however, wassomethingthatcouldnolongerbegrantedhim."Youtookusbysurprise, yousee," saidthelawyerinexplanation, cheerfullyindicatingtothegentlemanthatheshouldcomecloser, which, slowly, hesitatingly, lookingallaroundhim, butwithacertaindignity, hedid."Theofficedirector - oh, yes, forgiveme, Ihaven'tintroducedyou - thisismyfriendAlbertK., thisishisnephew, thechiefclerkJosefK., andthisistheofficedirector - so, 'sonlypossibletoappreciatejusthowvaluableavisitlikethisisifyou', hecameanyway, wewerehavingapeacefulchat, asfarasIwasablewhenI'msoweak, andalthoughwehadn'ttoldLenishemustn'tletanyoneinasweweren'texpectinganyone, westillwouldratherhaveremainedalone, butthenalongcameyou, Albert, thumpingyourfistsonthedoor, theofficedirectormovedoverintothecornerpullinghistableandchairwithhim, butnowitturnsoutwemighthave, thatis, ifthat'swhatyouwish, wemighthavesomethingtodiscusswitheachotheranditwouldbegoodifwecanallcomebacktogetheragain.- Officedirector …," hesaidwithhisheadononeside, pointingwithahumblesmiletoanarmchairnearthebed."I'mafraidI'llonlybeabletostayafewminutesmore," smiledtheofficedirectorashespreadhimselfoutinthearmchairandlookedattheclock."'twanttomissthechanceofmeetingafriendofmyfriend." HeinclinedhisheadslightlytowardK.'suncle, whoseemedveryhappywithhisnewacquaintance, buthewasnotthesortofpersontoexpresshisfeelingsofdeferenceandrespondedtotheofficedirector'swordswithembarrassed, butloud, ! , theofficedirectortookoverasleaderoftheconversationasseemedtobehishabitoncehehadbeencalledforward, thelawyerlistenedattentivelywithhishandtohisear, hisinitialweaknesshavingperhapsonlyhadthefunctionofdrivingawayhisnewvisitors, K.'suncleservedascandle-bearer - balancingthecandleonhisthighwhiletheofficedirectorfrequentlyglancednervouslyatit -andwassoonfreeofhisembarrassmentandwasquicklyenchantednotonlybytheofficedirector'sspeakingmannerbutalsobythegentle, wavinghandmovementswithwhichheaccompaniedit.K., leaningagainstthebedpost, wastotallyignoredbytheofficedirector, perhapsdeliberately, , , hebegantowonderwhetherhehadnotseentheofficedirectorsomewherebefore, , butthoughttheofficedirectormightwellhavebeenamongtheoldgentlemenwiththethinbeardsinthefirstrow.

Therewasthenanoisethateveryoneheardfromthehallwayasifsomethingofporcelainwerebeingbroken."I'llgoandseewhat'shappened," saidK., , findinghisbearingsinthedarknesswithhishandstillfirmlyholdingthedoor, whenanothersmallhand, muchsmallerthanK.'sown, ."Nothinghashappened," shewhisperedtohim, "Ijustthrewaplateagainstthewalltogetyououtofthere." "Iwasthinkingaboutyou, aswell," ."Somuchthebetter," saidthecarer."Comewithme".Afewstepsalong, theycametoafrostedglassdoorwhichthecareropenedforhim."Comeinhere," 'soffice, fittedoutwithold, heavyfurniture, asfarascouldbeseeninthemoonlightwhichnowilluminatedjustasmall, rectangularsectionofthefloorbyeachofthethreebigwindows."Thisway," saidthecarer, pointingtoadarktrunkwithacarved, , , itwasalargeroomwithahighceiling, , almostpressinghimagainstthearmrest."Ididthink," shesaid ", , too," sheaddedquicklyandsuddenly, asifnomomentofthisconversationshouldbelost."Gladly," saidK."Butasforitsbeingodd, Leni, that', Ihadtolistentowhattheoldmenweresayingandcouldn'tleavewithoutagoodreason, butsecondlyI'mnotaboldperson, ifanythingI'mquiteshy, andyou, Leni, youdidn'treallylooklikeyoucouldbewonoverinonestroke, either." "That'snotit," saidLeni, layingonearmonthearmrestandlookingatK., "youdidn'tlikeme, andIdon'tsupposeyoulikemenow, either." "Likingwouldn'tbeverymuch," saidK., evasively."Oh!" sheexclaimedwithasmile, thusmakinguseofK.', , 'srobes; , hisrightarm, however, wascompletelyfreeandonlygraspedthearmrestwithhishand, , thetoponeofwhichcouldbeseeninthepicture, coveredwithayellowcarpet."Thatmightbemyjudge," saidK., pointingtothepicturewithonefinger."Iknowhim," saidLenilookingupatthepicture, ", buthecanneverhavelookedanythinglikeit, ashe'stiny, , hehadhimselfmadetolookbiggerinthepictureashe'smadlyvain, 'mvainandthatmakesmeveryunhappythatyoudon'tlikeme." , , though, hesaid, "Whatrankishe?" "He'sanexaminingjudge," shesaid, ."Justanexaminingjudgeonceagain," , "." "That'salljustmadeup," saidLeniwithherfacebentoverK.'shand, "reallyhe'?" sheaddedslowly."No, notatall," saidK., "Iprobablyeventhinktoolittleaboutit." "That'snotthemistakeyou'remaking," saidLeni, "you'retoounyielding, that'swhatI'veheard." "Whosaidthat?" askedK., hefeltherbodyagainsthischestandlookeddownonherrich, dark, tightly-boundhair."I'dbesayingtoomuchifItoldyouthat," answeredLeni."Pleasedon'taskfornames, butdostopmakingthesemistakesofyours, stopbeingsounyielding, there'snothingyoucandotodefendyourselffromthiscourt, 'sonlythenthattheygiveyouthechancetogetaway, , withouthelpfromoutsideeventhat'simpossible, butyouneedn'tworryaboutgettingthishelpasIwanttohelpyoumyself." "Youunderstandalotaboutthiscourtandwhatsortoftricksareneeded," , sinceshewaspressinginmuchtooclosetohim, ontohislap."That'salright, then," shesaid, , leantbackandtookalonglookathim."AndwhatifIdon'tconfess, couldyounothelpmethen?" .I'maccumulatingwomentohelpme, hethoughttohimselfalmostinamazement, firstMissBürstner, thenthecourtusher'swife, ! "No," answeredLeni, slowlyshakingherhead, "Icouldn''twantmyhelpanyway, itmeansnothingtoyou, you'retoostubbornandwon'tbepersuaded." Then, afterawhilesheasked, "Doyouhavealover?" "No," saidK."Oh, youmusthave," shesaid."Well, Ihavereally," saidK."Justthink, I'veevenbetrayedherwhileI'mcarryingherphotographwithme." LeniinsistedheshowheraphotographofElsa, andthen, hunchedonhislap, , itshowedherjustaftershehadbeeninawilddancesuchasshelikedtodoinwinebars, herskirtwasstillflungoutasshespanround, shehadplacedherhandsonherfirmhipsand, withherneckheldtaut, lookedtoonesidewithalaugh; youcouldnotseefromthepicturewhomherlaughwasintendedfor."She'sverytightlylaced," saidLeni, pointingtotheplacewhereshethoughtthiscouldbeseen."Idon'tlikeher, she''sgentleandfriendlytowardsyou, that', stronggirlslikethatoftendon', though?" "No," saidK., "sheisn'tgentleorfriendly, 'veneveryetaskedanyofthosethingsofher.I'veneverlookedatthispictureascloselyasyou." "Youcan'tthinkmuchofher, then," saidLeni."Shecan'tbeyourloverafterall." "Yessheis," saidK., "I'mnotgoingtotakemywordbackonthat." "Wellshemightbeyourlovernow, then," saidLeni, "butyouwouldn'tmisshermuchifyoulostherorifyouexchangedherforsomebodyelse, meforinstance." "Thatiscertainlyconceivable," , "butshedoeshaveonemajoradvantageoveryou, sheknowsnothingaboutmytrial, andevenifshedidshewouldn''ttrytopersuademetobelessunyielding." "Wellthat'snoadvantage," saidLeni."Ifshe'sgotnoadvantageotherthanthat, ?" "'Bodilydefects'?" askedK."Yeah," saidLeni, "asIdohaveabodilydefect, ." , , sosheledhishandtoitsothathecouldfeel."Whatafreakofnature," saidK., andwhenhehadtakenalookatthewholehandheadded, "Whataprettyclaw!" , until, finally, hebrieflykissedthemandletgo."Oh!" sheimmediatelyexclaimed, "youkissedme!" Hurriedly, andwithhermouthopen, sheclamberedupK.', nowthatshewassoclosetohimtherewasabitter, irritatingsmellfromher, likepepper, shegraspedhishead, leantoutoverhim, andbitandkissedhisneck, evenbitingintohishair."I'vetakenherplace!" sheexclaimedfromtimetotime."Justlook, nowyou'vetakenmeinsteadofher!" Justthen, herkneeslippedoutand, withalittlecry, shenearlyfelldownontothecarpet, ."Nowyou'remine," , "Here'sthekeytothedoor, comewheneveryouwant", , hewasabouttogotothemiddleofthestreettoseeifhecouldstillglimpseLeniatthewindowwhenK.'suncleleaptoutofacarthatK., thinkingofotherthings, ."Youngman," heshouted, "howcouldyoudoathinglikethat?! Thingsweregoingwellwiththisbusinessofyours, nowyou', littlethingwho, moreover, isobviouslythelawyer'sbeloved, 'teventrytofindanexcuse, don'ttrytohideanything, no, you'requiteopenaboutit, 'resittingthere, yourunclewho'sgoingtosucheffortforyou, thelawyerwhoneedstobewonovertoyourside, andabovealltheofficedirector, , Ihadtohandlethelawyerverycarefully, hehadtohandletheofficedirectorcarefully, 'tkeepupthepretenceanylonger, butthesearepoliteandhighlycapablemen, theydidn'tsayanythingaboutitsoastosparemyfeelingsbutintheendnoteventheycouldcontinuetoforcethemselvesand, astheycouldn'tspeakaboutthematterinhand, , listeningtoseewhetheryouwouldn', ashehadstayedfarlongerthanhehadoriginallyintended, madehisfarewell, lookedatmeinsympathywithoutbeingabletohelp, hewaitedatthedoorforalongtimealthoughit'smorethanIcanunderstandwhyhewasbeingsogood, andthenhewent.I, ofcourse, wasgladhe'dgone, I', whenItookmyleaveofhim, thegoodman, , yourownuncle, youleavemehereintherain - justfeelthis, I'mwetrightthrough - waitinghereforhours, sickwithworry."