Процес

           hadtakenitasamatterofcoursethatthemanufacturerhadexplainedtothepainterinhisletterthatK.wantednothingmorewithhimthantofindoutmoreabouthistrial.Hehadbeenfartoorashincominghere!Butnowhehadtogivethepaintersomesortofanswerand,glancingattheeasel,said,"Areyouworkingonapicturecurrently?""Yes,"saidthepainter,andhetooktheshirthangingovertheeaselandthrewitontothebedaftertheletter."It’saportrait.Quiteagoodpieceofwork,althoughit’snotquitefinishedyet."ThiswasaconvenientcoincidenceforK.,itgavehimagoodopportunitytotalkaboutthecourtasthepictureshowed,veryclearly,ajudge.What’smore,itwasremarkablysimilartothepictureinthelawyer’soffice,althoughthisoneshowedaquitedifferentjudge,aheavymanwithafullbeardwhichwasblackandbushyandextendedtothesidesfaruptheman’scheeks.Thelawyer’spicturewasalsoanoilpainting,whereasthisonehadbeenmadewithpastelcoloursandwaspaleandunclear.Buteverythingelseaboutthepicturewassimilar,asthisjudge,too,washoldingtightlytothearmofhisthroneandseemedominouslyabouttorisefromit.AtfirstK.wasabouttosay,"Hecertainlyisajudge,"butheheldhimselfbackforthetimebeingandwentclosertothepictureasifhewantedtostudyitindetail.Therewasalargefigureshowninmiddleofthethrone’sbackrestwhichK.couldnotunderstandandaskedthepainteraboutit.