Page 125 - the-trial

explaining something obvious, unnecessary and incidental,
“you have to realise that I also derive great advantage for my
clients from mixing with those people, and do so in many
different ways, it’s not something you can keep talking
about all the time. I’m at a bit of a disadvantage now, of
course, because of my illness, but I still get visits from some
good friends of mine at the court and I learn one or two
things. It might even be that I learn more than many of
those who are in the best of health and spend all day in
court. And I’m receiving a very welcome visit right now, for
instance.” And he pointed into a dark corner of the room.
“Where?” asked K., almost uncouth in his surprise. He
looked round uneasily; the little candle gave off far too little
light to reach as far as the wall opposite. And then, some-
thing did indeed begin to move there in the corner. In the
light of the candle held up by K.’s uncle an elderly gentle-
man could be seen sitting beside a small table. He had been
sitting there for so long without being noticed that he could
hardly have been breathing. Now he stood up with a great
deal of fuss, clearly unhappy that attention had been drawn
to him. It was as if, by flapping his hands about like short
wings, he hoped to deflect any introductions and greetings,
as if he wanted on no account to disturb the others by his
presence and seemed to be exhorting them to leave him
back in the dark and forget about his being there. That,
however, was something that could no longer be granted
him. “You took us by surprise, you see,” said the lawyer in
explanation, cheerfully indicating to the gentleman that he
should come closer, which, slowly, hesitatingly, looking all

1 The Trial