Процес
Lawyer - Manufacturer - Painter
Asthetwomenleantoverthedeskandthemanufacturermadesomeefforttogainandkeepthedeputydirector’sattention,K.feltasiftheyweremuchbiggerthantheyreallywereandthattheirnegotiationswereabouthim.Carefullyandslowlyturninghiseyesupwards,hetriedtolearnwhatwastakingplaceabovehim,tookoneofthepapersfromhisdeskwithoutlookingtoseewhatitwas,layitontheflatofhishandandraiseditslowlyupasheroseuptothelevelofthetwomenhimself.Hehadnoparticularplaninmindashedidthis,butmerelyfeltthiswashowhewouldactifonlyhehadfinishedpreparingthatgreatdocumentthatwastoremovehisburdenentirely.Thedeputydirectorhadbeenpayingallhisattentiontotheconversationanddidnomorethanglanceatthepaper,hedidnotreadwhatwaswrittenonitatallaswhatwasimportantforthechiefclerkwasnotimportantforhim,hetookitfromK.’shandsaying,"Thankyou,I’malreadyfamiliarwitheverything",andlayitcalmlybackonthedesk.K.gavehimabitter,sidewayslook.Butthedeputydirectordidnotnoticethisatall,orifhedidnoticeititonlyraisedhisspirits,hefrequentlylaughedoutloud,onetimeheclearlyembarrassedthemanufacturerwhenheraisedanobjectioninawittywaybutdrewhimimmediatelybackoutofhisembarrassmentbycommentingadverselyonhimself,andfinallyinvitedhimintohisofficewheretheycouldbringthemattertoitsconclusion."It’saveryimportantmatter,"saidthemanufacturer."Iunderstandthatcompletely.
