Процес

           followedthemslowly,caughtupwithoneofthegirlswhohadstumbledandbeenleftbehindbytheothers,andaskedherastheywentupsidebyside,"Isthereapainter,Titorelli,wholiveshere?"Thegirl,hardlythirteenyearsoldandsomewhathunchbacked,jabbedhimwithherelbowandlookedathimsideways.Heryouthandherbodilydefectshaddonenothingtostopherbeingalreadyquitedepraved.Shedidnotsmileonce,butlookedatK.earnestly,withsharp,acquisitiveeyes.K.pretendednottonoticeherbehaviourandasked,"DoyouknowTitorelli,thepainter?"Shenoddedandaskedinreply,"Whatd’youwanttoseehimfor?"K.thoughtitwouldbetohisadvantagequicklytofindoutsomethingmoreaboutTitorelli."Iwanttohavehimpaintmyportrait,"hesaid."Paintyourportrait?"sheasked,openinghermouthtoowideandlightlyhittingK.withherhandasifhehadsaidsomethingextraordinarilysurprisingorclumsy,withbothhandssheliftedherskirt,whichwasalreadyveryshort,and,asfastasshecould,sheranoffaftertheothergirlswhoseindistinctshoutslostthemselvesintheheights.Atthenextturnofthestairs,however,K.encounteredallthegirlsoncemore.ThehunchbackedgirlhadclearlytoldthemaboutK.’sintentionsandtheywerewaitingforhim.Theystoodonbothsidesofthestairs,pressingthemselvesagainstthewallsothatK.couldgetthroughbetweenthem,andsmoothedtheirapronsdownwiththeirhands.Alltheirfaces,eveninthisguardofhonour,showedamixtureofchildishnessanddepravity.