Процес
Lawyer - Manufacturer - Painter
Thepainterdidnotlethimselfbedistracted,butsaid,"Inyourcase,forinstance,asyou’retotallyinnocent,thisiswhatI’lldo."TherepeatedmentionofK.’sinnocencewasbecomingirksometohim.Itsometimesseemedtohimasifthepainterwasusingthesecommentstomakeafavourableoutcometothetrialapreconditionforhishelp,whichofcoursewouldmakethehelpitselfunnecessary.ButdespitethesedoubtsK.forcedhimselfnottointerruptthepainter.Hedidnotwanttodowithoutthepainter’shelp,thatwaswhathehaddecided,andthishelpdidnotseeminanywaylessquestionablethanthatofthelawyer.K.valuedthepainter’shelpfarmorehighlybecauseitwasofferedinawaythatwasmoreharmlessandopen.
Thepainterhadpulledhisseatclosertothebedandcontinuedinasubduedvoice:"Iforgottoaskyou;whatsortofacquittalisityouwant?Therearethreepossibilities;absoluteacquittal,apparentacquittalanddeferment.Absoluteacquittalisthebest,ofcourse,onlythere’snothingIcoulddotogetthatsortofoutcome.Idon’tthinkthere’sanyoneatallwhocoulddoanythingtogetanabsoluteacquittal.Probablytheonlythingthatcoulddothatisiftheaccusedisinnocent.Asyouareinnocentitcouldactuallybepossibleandyoucoulddependonyourinnocencealone.Inthatcaseyouwon’tneedmeoranyotherkindofhelp."
Atfirst,K.
