Процес
In the Cathedral
lookeddownatthestepswhich,pressedcloseagainstthecolumn,leduptothepulpit.Theyweresonarrowtheyseemedtobethereasdecorationonthecolumnratherthanforanyonetouse.Butunderthepulpit-K.grinnedinastonishment-therereallywasaprieststandingwithhishandonthehandrailreadytoclimbthestepsandlookingatK.Thenhenoddedveryslightly,sothatK.crossedhimselfandgenuflectedasheshouldhavedoneearlier.Withalittleswing,thepriestwentupintothepulpitwithshortfaststeps.Wastherereallyasermonabouttobegin?Maybethemaninthecassockhadnotbeenreallysodemented,andhadmeanttoleadK.’swaytothepreacher,whichinthisemptychurchwouldhavebeenverynecessary.Andtherewasalso,somewhereinfrontofapictureoftheVirginMary,anoldwomanwhoshouldhavecometohearthesermon.Andiftherewastobeasermonwhyhaditnotbeenintroducedontheorgan?Buttheorganremainedquietandmerelylookedoutweaklyfromthedarknessofitsgreatheight.
K.nowconsideredwhetherheshouldleaveasquicklyaspossible,ifhedidnotdoitnowtherewouldbenochanceofdoingsoduringthesermonandhewouldhavetostaythereforaslongasitlasted,hehadlostsomuchtimewhenheshouldhavebeeninhisoffice,therehadlongbeennoneedforhimtowaitfortheItaliananylonger,helookedathiswatch,itwaseleven.Butcouldtherereallybeasermongiven?CouldK.
