Процес
Lawyer - Manufacturer - Painter
hadbeenlookingroundtheroom,ifithadnotbeenpointedoutitwouldneverhaveoccurredtohimthatthiswretchedlittleroomcouldbecalledastudio.Itwashardlylongenoughorbroadenoughtomaketwosteps.Everything,floor,wallsandceiling,wasmadeofwood,betweentheplanksnarrowgapscouldbeseen.AcrossfromwhereK.was,thebedstoodagainstthewallunderacoveringofmanydifferentcolours.Inthemiddleoftheroomapicturestoodonaneasel,coveredoverwithashirtwhosearmsdangleddowntotheground.BehindK.wasthewindowthroughwhichthefogmadeitimpossibletoseefurtherthanthesnowcoveredroofoftheneighbouringbuilding.
TheturningofthekeyinthelockremindedK.thathehadnotwantedtostaytoolong.Sohedrewthemanufacturer’sletteroutfromhispocket,helditouttothepainterandsaid,"Ilearnedaboutyoufromthisgentleman,anacquaintanceofyours,andit’sonhisadvicethatI’vecomehere".Thepainterglancedthroughtheletterandthrewitdownontothebed.IfthemanufacturerhadnotsaidveryclearlythatTitorelliwasanacquaintanceofhis,apoormanwhowasdependentonhischarity,thenitwouldreallyhavebeenquitepossibletobelievethatTitorellididnotknowhimoratleastthathecouldnotrememberhim.Thisimpressionwasaugmentedbythepainter’sasking,"Wereyouwantingtobuysomepicturesordidyouwanttohaveyourselfpainted?"K.lookedatthepainterinastonishment.Whatdidtheletteractuallysay?K.
