Page 134 - the-trial

handle the lawyer very carefully, he had to handle the office
director carefully, and you had most reason of all to at least
give me some support. Instead of which you stay away.
Eventually we couldn’t keep up the pretence any longer, but
these are polite and highly capable men, they didn’t say
anything about it so as to spare my feelings but in the end
not even they could continue to force themselves and, as
they couldn’t speak about the matter in hand, they became
silent. We sat there for several minutes, listening to see
whether you wouldn’t finally come back. All in vain. In the
end the office director stood up, as he had stayed far longer
than he had originally intended, made his farewell, looked
at me in sympathy without being able to help, he waited at
the door for a long time although it’s more than I can un-
derstand why he was being so good, and then he went. I, of
course, was glad he’d gone, I’d been holding my breath all
this time. All this had even more affect on the lawyer lying
there ill, when I took my leave of him, the good man, he was
quite unable to speak. You have probably contributed to his
total collapse and so brought the very man who you are de-
pendent on closer to his death. And me, your own uncle,
you leave me here in the rain just feel this, I’m wet right
through waiting here for hours, sick with worry.”

1