Page 51 - the-trial

tivity that would bring this whole affair to an end. It was
somewhat disturbing that just then the door at the end of
the hall opened, the young washerwoman, who seemed to
have finished her work, came in and, despite all her cau-
tion, attracted the attention of some of the people there. It
was only the judge who gave K. any direct pleasure, as he
seemed to have been immediately struck by K.’s words. Un-
til then, he had listened to him standing, as K.’s speech had
taken him by surprise while he was directing his attention
to the gallery. Now, in the pause, he sat down very slowly, as
if he did not want anyone to notice. He took out the note-
book again, probably so that he could give the impression
of being calmer.
“That won’t help you, sir, “ continued K., “even your little
book will only confirm what I say.” K. was satisfied to hear
nothing but his own quiet words in this room full of strang-
ers, and he even dared casually to pick up the examining
judge’s notebook and, touching it only with the tips of his
fingers as if it were something revolting, lifted it in the air,
holding it just by one of the middle pages so that the oth-
ers on each side of it, closely written, blotted and yellowing,
flapped down. “Those are the official notes of the examin-
ing judge,” he said, and let the notebook fall down onto the
desk. “You can read in your book as much as you like, sir, I
really don’t have anything in this charge book to be afraid
of, even though I don’t have access to it as I wouldn’t want it
in my hand, I can only touch it with two fingers.” The judge
grabbed the notebook from where it had fallen on the desk
which could only have been a sign of his deep humiliation,

0 The Trial