Page 241 - the-trial

Italian said with the director there, who could understand
him so easily, it would have been pointless effort and for
the time being did no more than scowl at the Italian as he
relaxed sitting deep but comfortable in the armchair, as he
frequently pulled at his short, sharply tailored jacket and
at one time lifted his arms in the air and moved his hands
freely to try and depict something that K. could not grasp,
even though he was leaning forward and did not let the
hands out of his sight. K. had nothing to occupy himself
but mechanically watch the exchange between the two men
and his tiredness finally made itself felt, to his alarm, al-
though fortunately in good time, he once caught himself
nearly getting up, turning round and leaving. Eventually
the Italian looked at the clock and jumped up. After taking
his leave from the director he turned to K., pressing him-
self so close to him that K. had to push his chair back just
so that he could move. The director had, no doubt, seen the
anxiety in K.’s eyes as he tried to cope with this dialect of
Italian, he joined in with this conversation in a way that was
so adroit and unobtrusive that he seemed to be adding no
more than minor comments, whereas in fact he was swiftly
and patiently breaking into what the Italian said so that K.
could understand. K. learned in this way that the Italian
first had a few business matters to settle, that he unfortu-
nately had only a little time at his disposal, that he certainly
did not intend to rush round to see every monument in the
city, that he would much rather at least as long as K. would
agree, it was entirely his decision just see the cathedral and
to do so thoroughly. He was extremely pleased to be ac-

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