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complaints about K. “Dr. Huld, sir,” he said, “did you hear
the way this man spoke to me? You can count the length of
his trial in hours, and he wants to tell me what to do when
I’ve been involved in a legal case for five years. He even in-
sults me. He doesn’t know anything, but he insults me,
when I, as far as my weak ability allows, when I’ve made a
close study of how to behave with the court, what we ought
to do and what the court practices are.” “Don’t let anyone
bother you,” said the lawyer, “and do what seems to you to
be right.” “I will,” said Block, as if speaking to himself to
give himself courage, and with a quick glance to the side he
kneeled down close beside the bed. “I’m kneeling now Dr.
Huld, sir,” he said. But the lawyer remained silent. With one
hand, Block carefully stroked the bed cover. In the silence
while he did so, Leni, as she freed herself from K.’s hands,
said, “You’re hurting me. Let go of me. I’m going over to
Block.” She went over to him and sat on the edge of the bed.
Block was very pleased at this and with lively, but silent, ges-
tures he immediately urged her to intercede for him with
the lawyer. It was clear that he desperately needed to be told
something by the lawyer, although perhaps only so that he
could make use of the information with his other lawyers.
Leni probably knew very well how the lawyer could be
brought round, pointed to his hand and pursed her lips as if
making a kiss. Block immediately performed the hand-kiss
and, at further urging from Leni, repeated it twice more.
But the lawyer continued to be silent. Then Leni leant over
the lawyer, as she stretched out, the attractive shape of her
body could be seen, and, bent over close to his face, she

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