Page 110 - the-trial

As soon as they had greeted each other K. had invited
him to sit in the armchair but Uncle Karl had no time for
that he said he wanted to speak briefly with K. in private. “It
is necessary,” he said with a tired gulp, “it is necessary for
my peace of mind.” K. immediately sent the junior staff
from the room and told them to let no-one in. “What’s this
that I’ve been hearing, Josef?” cried K.’s uncle when they
were alone, as he sat on the table shoving various papers un-
der himself without looking at them to make himself more
comfortable. K. said nothing, he knew what was coming,
but, suddenly relieved from the effort of the work he had
been doing, he gave way to a pleasant lassitude and looked
out the window at the other side of the street. From where
he sat, he could see just a small, triangular section of it, part
of the empty walls of houses between two shop windows.
“You’re staring out the window!” called out his uncle, rais-
ing his arms, “For God’s sake, Josef, give me an answer! Is it
true, can it really be true?” “Uncle Karl,” said K., wrenching
himself back from his daydreaming, “I really don’t know
what it is you want of me.” “Josef,” said his uncle in a warn-
ing tone, “as far as I know, you’ve always told the truth. Am
I to take what you’ve just said as a bad sign?” “I think I know
what it is you want,” said K. obediently, “I expect you’ve
heard about my trial.” “That’s right,” answered his uncle
with a slow nod, “I’ve heard about your trial.” “Who did you
hear it from, then?” asked K. “Erna wrote to me,” said his
uncle, “she doesn’t have much contact with you, it’s true,
you don’t pay very much attention to her, I’m afraid to say,
but she learned about it nonetheless. I got her letter today

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