Page 167 - the-trial

said, “Gentlemen, there is a very simple way to solve this. If
you would prefer it, I’ll be very glad to take over these ne-
gotiations instead of the chief clerk. Your business does, of
course, need to be discussed without delay. We are business-
men like yourselves and know the value of a businessman’s
time. Would you like to come this way?” And he opened the
door leading to the ante-room of his own office.
The deputy director seemed very good at appropriating
everything that K. was now forced to give up! But was K. not
giving up more than he absolutely had to? By running off to
some unknown painter, with, as he had to admit, very little
hope of any vague benefit, his renown was suffering damage
that could not me repaired. It would probably be much bet-
ter to take off his winter coat again and, at the very least, try
to win back the two gentlemen who were certainly still wait-
ing in the next room. If K. had not then glimpsed the deputy
director in his office, looking for something from his book-
shelves as if they were his own, he would probably even have
made the attempt. As K., somewhat agitated, approached
the door the deputy director called out, “Oh, you’ve still not
left!” He turned his face toward him its many deep folds
seemed to show strength rather than age and immediately
began once more to search. “I’m looking for a copy of a con-
tract,” he said, “which this gentleman insists you must have.
Could you help me look for it, do you think?” K. made a
step forward, but the deputy director said, “thank you, I’ve
already found it,” and with a big package of papers, which
certainly must have included many more documents than
just the copy of the contract, he turned and went back into

1 The Trial