Page 59 - the-trial

on me, you gave the impression of having formed into fac-
tions, one of you even applauded me to test me out, and you
wanted to learn how to trap an innocent man! Well, I hope
you haven’t come here for nothing, I hope you’ve either had
some fun from someone who expected you to defend his in-
nocence or else let go of me or I’ll hit you,” shouted K. to a
quivery old man who had pressed himself especially close
to him “or else that you’ve actually learned something. And
so I wish you good luck in your trade.” He briskly took his
hat from where it lay on the edge of the table and, surround-
ed by a silence caused perhaps by the completeness of their
surprise, pushed his way to the exit. However, the examin-
ing judge seems to have moved even more quickly than K.,
as he was waiting for him at the doorway. “One moment,”
he said. K. stood where he was, but looked at the door with
his hand already on its handle rather than at the judge. “I
merely wanted to draw your attention, “ said the judge, “to
something you seem not yet to be aware of: today, you have
robbed yourself of the advantages that a hearing of this sort
always gives to someone who is under arrest.” K. laughed
towards the door. “You bunch of louts,” he called, “you can
keep all your hearings as a present from me,” then opened
the door and hurried down the steps. Behind him, the noise
of the assembly rose as it became lively once more and prob-
ably began to discuss these events as if making a scientific
study of them.

The Trial