Page 85 - the-trial

with a wave of the hand) “so, this gentleman’s job is to give
out information. He gives all the information they need to
people who are waiting, as our court and its offices are not
very well known among the public he gets asked for quite a
lot. He has an answer for every question, you can try him
out if you feel like it. But that’s not his only distinction, his
other distinction is his elegance of dress. We, that’s to say all
of us who work in the offices here, we decided that the infor-
mation-giver would have to be elegantly dressed as he
continually has to deal with the litigants and he’s the first
one they meet, so he needs to give a dignified first impres-
sion. The rest of us I’m afraid, as you can see just by looking
at me, dress very badly and old-fashioned; and there’s not
much point in spending much on clothes anyway, as we
hardly ever leave the offices, we even sleep here. But, as I
said, we decided that the information-giver would have to
have nice clothes. As the management here is rather pecu-
liar in this respect, and they would get them for us, we had
a collection some of the litigants contributed too and bought
him these lovely clothes and some others besides. So every-
thing would be ready for him to give a good impression,
except that he spoils it again by laughing and frightening
people.” “That’s how it is,” said the man, mocking her, “but
I don’t understand why it is that you’re explaining all our
intimate facts to the gentleman, or rather why it is that
you’re pressing them on him, as I’m sure he’s not all inter-
ested. Just look at him sitting there, it’s clear he’s occupied
with his own affairs.” K. just did not feel like contradicting
him.. The girl’s intention may have been good, perhaps she

The Trial