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           Youmightthink-Ithoughtitmyselfatfirst-youmightthinkIcouldleavethewholethingentirelyuptothemnow.Thatwouldbeentirelywrong.IcanleaveituptothemlessthanwhenIhadjusttheone.Maybeyoudon’tunderstandthat,doyou?""No,"saidK.,andtoslowthebusinessmandown,whohadbeenspeakingtoofast,helaidhishandonthebusinessman’storeassurehim,"butI’dlikejusttoaskyoutospeakalittlemoreslowly,thesearemanyveryimportantthingsforme,andIcan’tfollowexactlywhatyou’resaying.""You’requiterighttoremindmeofthat,"saidthebusinessman,"you’renewtoallthis,ajunior.Yourtrialissixmonthsold,isn’tit?Yes,I’veheardaboutit.Suchanewcase!ButI’vealreadythoughtallthesethingsthroughcountlesstimes,tomethey’rethemostobviousthingsintheworld.""Youmustbegladyourtrialhasalreadyprogressedsofar,areyou?"askedK.,hedidnotwishtoaskdirectlyhowthebusinessman’saffairsstood,butreceivednoclearansweranyway."Yes,I’vebeenworkingatmytrialforfiveyearsnow,"saidthebusinessmanashisheadsank,"that’snosmallachievement."Thenhewassilentforawhile.K.listenedtohearwhetherLeniwasonherwayback.Ontheonehandhedidnotwanthertocomebacktoosoonashestillhadmanyquestionstoaskanddidnotwanthertofindhiminthisintimatediscussionwiththebusinessman,butontheotherhanditirritatedhimthatshestayedsolongwiththelawyerwhenK.wasthere,muchlongerthansheneededtogivehimhissoup.