Процес
First Cross-examination
Idon’tsaythingsarebeingdonewithoutduecarebutIwouldliketomakeitclearthatitisIwhomaketheacknowledgement."
K.stoppedspeakingandlookeddownintothehall.Hehadspokensharply,moresharplythanhehadintended,buthehadbeenquiteright.Itshouldhavebeenrewardedwithsomeapplausehereandtherebuteverythingwasquiet,theywereallclearlywaitingforwhatwouldfollow,perhapsthequietnesswaslayingthegroundforanoutbreakofactivitythatwouldbringthiswholeaffairtoanend.Itwassomewhatdisturbingthatjustthenthedoorattheendofthehallopened,theyoungwasherwoman,whoseemedtohavefinishedherwork,cameinand,despiteallhercaution,attractedtheattentionofsomeofthepeoplethere.ItwasonlythejudgewhogaveK.anydirectpleasure,asheseemedtohavebeenimmediatelystruckbyK.’swords.Untilthen,hehadlistenedtohimstanding,asK.’sspeechhadtakenhimbysurprisewhilehewasdirectinghisattentiontothegallery.Now,inthepause,hesatdownveryslowly,asifhedidnotwantanyonetonotice.Hetookoutthenotebookagain,probablysothathecouldgivetheimpressionofbeingcalmer.
"Thatwon’thelpyou,sir,"continuedK.,"evenyourlittlebookwillonlyconfirmwhatIsay."K.
