Процес
Lawyer - Manufacturer - Painter
asheheldhishatinhishandcleaningthedustoffithereandthere,andthenhesaid,"Gentlemen,thereisaverysimplewaytosolvethis.Ifyouwouldpreferit,I’llbeverygladtotakeoverthesenegotiationsinsteadofthechiefclerk.Yourbusinessdoes,ofcourse,needtobediscussedwithoutdelay.Wearebusinessmenlikeyourselvesandknowthevalueofabusinessman’stime.Wouldyouliketocomethisway?"Andheopenedthedoorleadingtotheante-roomofhisownoffice.
ThedeputydirectorseemedverygoodatappropriatingeverythingthatK.wasnowforcedtogiveup!ButwasK.notgivingupmorethanheabsolutelyhadto?Byrunningofftosomeunknownpainter,with,ashehadtoadmit,verylittlehopeofanyvaguebenefit,hisrenownwassufferingdamagethatcouldnotberepaired.Itwouldprobablybemuchbettertotakeoffhiswintercoatagainand,attheveryleast,trytowinbackthetwogentlemenwhowerecertainlystillwaitinginthenextroom.IfK.hadnotthenglimpsedthedeputydirectorinhisoffice,lookingforsomethingfromhisbookshelvesasiftheywerehisown,hewouldprobablyevenhavemadetheattempt.AsK.,somewhatagitated,approachedthedoorthedeputydirectorcalledout,"Oh,you’vestillnotleft!"Heturnedhisfacetowardhim-itsmanydeepfoldsseemedtoshowstrengthratherthanage-andimmediatelybeganoncemoretosearch."I’mlookingforacopyofacontract,"hesaid,"whichthisgentlemaninsistsyoumusthave.Couldyouhelpmelookforit,doyouthink?"K.
