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be affected by this trial; I really can’t see how, but that’s be-
side the point and I’m quite willing to follow your
instructions in all of this. Only, I don’t see any advantage in
staying in the country, not even for you, as that would indi-
cate flight and a sense of guilt. And besides, although I am
more subject to persecution if I stay in the city I can also
press the matter forward better here.” “You’re right,” said
his uncle in a tone that seemed to indicate they were finally
coming closer to each other, “I just made the suggestion be-
cause, as I saw it, if you stay in the city the case will be put
in danger by your indifference to it, and I thought it was
better if I did the work for you. But will you push things for-
ward yourself with all your strength, if so, that will
naturally be far better.” “We’re agreed then,” said K. “And
do you have any suggestions for what I should do next?”
“Well, naturally I’ll have to think about it,” said his uncle,
“you must bear in mind that I’ve been living in the country
for twenty years now, almost without a break, you lose your
ability to deal with matters like this. But I do have some im-
portant connections with several people who, I expect,
know their way around these things better than I do, and to
contact them is a matter of course. Out there in the country
I’ve been getting out of condition, I’m sure you’re already
aware of that. It’s only at times like this that you notice it
yourself. And this affair of yours came largely unexpected,
although, oddly enough, I had expected something of the
sort after I’d read Erna’s letter, and today when I saw your
face I knew it with almost total certainty. But all that is by
the by, the important thing now is, we have no time to lose.”

11 The Trial