Page 127 - the-trial

director took over as leader of the conversation as seemed to
be his habit once he had been called forward, the lawyer lis-
tened attentively with his hand to his ear, his initial weakness
having perhaps only had the function of driving away his
new visitors, K.’s uncle served as candle-bearer balancing
the candle on his thigh while the office director frequently
glanced nervously at it and was soon free of his embarrass-
ment and was quickly enchanted not only by the office
director’s speaking manner but also by the gentle, waving
hand-movements with which he accompanied it. K., lean-
ing against the bedpost, was totally ignored by the office
director, perhaps deliberately, and served the old man only
as audience. And besides, he had hardly any idea what the
conversation was about and his thoughts soon turned to the
care assistant and the ill treatment she had suffered from
his uncle. Soon after, he began to wonder whether he had
not seen the office director somewhere before, perhaps
among the people who were at his first hearing. He may
have been mistaken, but thought the office director might
well have been among the old gentlemen with the thin
beards in the first row.
There was then a noise that everyone heard from the
hallway as if something of porcelain were being broken. “I’ll
go and see what’s happened,” said K., who slowly left the
room as if giving the others the chance to stop him. He had
hardly stepped into the hallway, finding his bearings in the
darkness with his hand still firmly holding the door, when
another small hand, much smaller than K.’s own, placed it-
self on his and gently shut the door. It was the carer who had

1 The Trial