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said the businessman, “I’ll tell you about some of it, but
you’ll have to tell me a secret too, then we can support each
other with the lawyer.” “You are very careful,” said K., “but
I’ll tell you a secret that will set your mind completely at
ease. Now tell me, in what way have you been unfaithful to
the lawyer?” “I’ve …” said the businessman hesitantly, and
in a tone as if he were confessing something dishonourable,
“I’ve taken on other lawyers besides him.” “That’s not so se-
rious,” said K., a little disappointed. “It is, here,” said the
businessman, who had had some difficulty breathing since
making his confession but who now, after hearing K.’s com-
ment, began to feel more trust for him. “That’s not allowed.
And it’s allowed least of all to take on petty lawyers when
you’ve already got a proper one. And that’s just what I have
done, besides him I’ve got five petty lawyers.” “Five!” ex-
claimed K., astonished at this number, “Five lawyers besides
this one?” The businessman nodded. “I’m even negotiating
with a sixth one.” “But why do you need so many lawyers?”
asked K. “I need all of them,” said the businessman. “Would
you mind explaining that to me?” asked K. “I’d be glad to,”
said the businessman. “Most of all, I don’t want to lose my
case, well that’s obvious. So that means I mustn’t neglect
anything that might be of use to me; even if there’s very lit-
tle hope of a particular thing being of any use I can’t just
throw it away. So everything I have I’ve put to use in my
case. I’ve taken all the money out of my business, for exam-
ple, the offices for my business used to occupy nearly a
whole floor, but now all I need is a little room at the back
where I work with one apprentice. It wasn’t just using up the

0 The Trial