Page 205 - the-trial

And she poured the soup into a dish. “The only worry then
is that he might go to sleep soon after he’s eaten.” “What I’ve
got to say to him will keep him awake,” said K., who still
wanted to intimate that he intended some important nego-
tiations with the lawyer, he wanted Leni to ask him what it
was and only then to ask her advice. But instead, she just
promptly carried out the order he had given her. When she
went over to him with the dish she deliberately brushed
against him and whispered, “I’ll tell him you’re here as soon
as he’s eaten the soup so that I can get you back as soon as
possible.” “Just go,” said K., “just go.” “Be a bit more friend-
ly,” she said and, still holding the dish, turned completely
round once more in the doorway.
K. watched her as she went; the decision had finally been
made that the lawyer was to be dismissed, it was probably
better that he had not been able to discuss the matter any
more with Leni beforehand; she hardly understood the
complexity of the matter, she would certainly have advised
him against it and perhaps would even have prevented him
from dismissing the lawyer this time, he would have re-
mained in doubt and unease and eventually have carried
out his decision after a while anyway as this decision was
something he could not avoid. The sooner it was carried out
the more harm would be avoided. And moreover, perhaps
the businessman had something to say on the matter.
K. turned round, the businessman hardly noticed it as he
was about to stand up. “Stay where you are,” said K. and
pulled up a chair beside him. “Have you been a client of the
lawyer’s for a long time?” asked K. “Yes,” said the business-

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