Процес

           "Wouldyounotliketocomedownhere?"askedK."Ifyou’renotgoingtogiveasermoncomedownherewithme.""NowIcancomedown,"saidthepriest,perhapsheregrettedhavingshoutedatK.Ashetookdownthelampfromitshookhesaid,"tostartoffwithIhadtospeaktoyoufromadistance.OtherwiseI’mtooeasilyinfluencedandforgetmyduty."

           K.waitedforhimatthefootofthesteps.WhilehewasstillononeofthehigherstepsashecamedownthemthepriestreachedouthishandforK.toshake."Canyousparemealittleofyourtime?"askedK."Asmuchtimeasyouneed,"saidthepriest,andpassedhimthelittlelampforhimtocarry.Evenatclosedistancethepriestdidnotloseacertainsolemnitythatseemedtobepartofhischaracter."Youareveryfriendlytowardsme,"saidK.,astheywalkedupanddownbesideeachotherinthedarknessofoneofthesidenaves."Thatmakesyouanexceptionamongallthosewhobelongtothecourt.IcantrustyoumorethananyoftheothersI’veseen.Icanspeakopenlywithyou.""Don’tfoolyourself,"saidthepriest."HowwouldIbefoolingmyself?"askedK."Youfoolyourselfinthecourt,"saidthepriest,"ittalksaboutthisself-deceitintheopeningparagraphstothelaw.Infrontofthelawthereisadoorkeeper.Amanfromthecountrysidecomesuptothedoorandasksforentry.Butthedoorkeepersayshecan’tlethimintothelawrightnow.Themanthinksaboutthis,andthenheasksifhe’llbeabletogoinlateron.