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           Wouldyoubesokindastocomebacktomorroworsometime?Orperhapswecouldsettleyouraffairsbytelephone?Orperhapsyouwouldliketotellmenow,briefly,whatit’saboutandIcanthengiveyouafullanswerinwriting.Whatever,thebestthingwillbeforyoutocomehereagain."Thegentlemennowsawthattheirwaithadbeentotallypointless,andthesesuggestionsofK.’sleftthemsoastoundedthattheylookedateachotherwithoutaword."That’sagreedthen,isit?"askedK.,whohadturnedtowardtheservitorbringinghimhishat.ThroughtheopendoorofK.’sofficetheycouldseethatthesnowfalloutsidehadbecomemuchheavier.SoK.turnedthecollarofhiscoatupandbuttonedituphighunderhischin.Justthenthedeputydirectorcameoutoftheadjoiningroom,smiledashesawK.negotiatingwiththegentlemeninhiswintercoat,andasked,"Areyouabouttogoout?""Yes,"saidK.,standingmoreupright,"Ihavetogooutonsomebusiness."Butthedeputydirectorhadalreadyturnedtowardsthegentlemen."Andwhataboutthesegentlemen?"heasked."Ithinkthey’vealreadybeenwaitingquitealongtime.""We’vealreadycometoanunderstanding,"saidK.Butnowthegentlemencouldbeheldbacknolonger,theysurroundedK.andexplainedthattheywouldnothavebeenwaitingforhoursifithadnotbeenaboutsomethingimportantthathadtobediscussednow,atlengthandinprivate.Thedeputydirectorlistenedtothemforashortwhile,healsolookedatK.