Процес
Miss Bürstner’s Friend
HislookseemedtobesayingthatK.hadbeenexpectingthisinvitationforMissMontagforalongtime,andthatitwasconfirmationofthesufferinghehadbeenmadetoendurethatSundaymorningfromMrs.Grubach’stenants.Hesentthemaidbackwiththereplythathewasonhisway,thenhewenttothewardrobetochangehiscoat,andinanswertoMrs.Grubach’sgentlewhiningaboutthenuisanceMissMontagwascausingmerelyaskedhertoclearawaythebreakfastthings."Butyou’vehardlytouchedit,"saidMrs.Grubach."Ohjusttakeitaway!"shoutedK.ItseemedtohimthatMissMontagwasmixedupineverythingandmadeitrepulsivetohim.
AshewentthroughthehallwayhelookedatthecloseddoorofMissBürstner’sroom.Butitwasn’ttherethathewasinvited,butthediningroom,towhichheyankedthedooropenwithoutknocking.
Theroomwaslongbutnarrowwithonewindow.Therewasonlyenoughspaceavailabletoputtwocupboardsatanangleinthecornerbythedoor,andtherestoftheroomwasentirelytakenupwiththelongdiningtablewhichstartedbythedoorandreachedallthewaytothegreatwindow,whichwasthusmadealmostinaccessible.Thetablewasalreadylaidforalargenumberofpeople,asonSundaysalmostallthetenantsatetheirdinnerhereatmidday.
WhenK.entered,MissMontagcametowardshimfromthewindowalongonesideofthetable.Theygreetedeachotherinsilence.
