Процес
In the Cathedral
hadearlierknownalittleaboutarthistoryandthishadbecomewidelyknownaroundthebankinextremelyexaggeratedform,andthatK.hadbeenamemberoftheSocietyforthePreservationofCityMonuments,albeitonlyforbusinessreasons.ItwassaidthatthisItalianwasanartlover,sothechoiceofK.toaccompanyhimwasamatterofcourse.
ItwasaveryrainyandstormymorningwhenK.,inafoultemperatthethoughtofthedayaheadofhim,arrivedearlyatseveno’clockintheofficesothathecouldatleastdosomeworkbeforehisvisitorwouldpreventhim.HehadspenthalfthenightstudyingabookofItaliangrammarsothathewouldbesomewhatpreparedandwasverytired;hisdeskwaslessattractivetohimthanthewindowwherehehadspentfartoomuchtimesittingoflate,butheresistedthetemptationandsatdowntohiswork.Unfortunately,justthentheservitorcameinandreportedthatthedirectorhadsenthimtoseewhetherthechiefclerkwasalreadyinhisoffice;ifhewas,thenwouldhepleasebesokindastocometohisreceptionroomasthegentlemanfromItalywasalreadythere."I’llcomestraightaway,"saidK.Heputasmalldictionaryinhispocket,tookaguidetothecity’stouristsitesunderhisarmthathehadcompiledforstrangers,andwentthroughthedeputydirector’sofficeintothatofthedirector.Hewasgladhehadcomeintotheofficesoearlyandwasabletobeofserviceimmediately,nobodycouldseriouslyhaveexpectedthatofhim.
