Процес
In the empty Courtroom - The Student - The Offices
Theysat,equallyspaced,ontworowsoflongwoodenbencheswhichhadbeenplacedalongbothsidesofthecorridor.Allofthemwerecarelesslydressedalthoughtheexpressionsontheirfaces,theirbearing,thestyleoftheirbeardsandmanydetailswhichwerehardtoidentifyshowedthattheybelongedtotheupperclasses.Therewerenocoathooksforthemtouse,andsotheyhadplacedtheirhatsunderthebench,eachprobablyhavingfollowedtheexampleoftheothers.WhenthosewhoweresittingnearestthedoorsawK.andtheusherofthecourttheystooduptogreetthem,andwhentheotherssawthat,theyalsothoughttheyhadtogreetthem,sothatasthetwoofthemwentbyallthepeopletherestoodup.Noneofthemstoodproperlyupright,theirbackswerebowed,theirkneesbent,theystoodlikebeggarsonthestreet.K.waitedfortheusher,whowasfollowingjustbehindhim."Theymustallbeverydispirited,"hesaid."Yes,"saidtheusher,"theyaretheaccused,everyoneyouseeherehasbeenaccused.""Really!"saidK."They’recolleaguesofminethen."Andheturnedtothenearestone,atall,thinmanwithhairthatwasnearlygrey."Whatisityouarewaitingforhere?"askedK.,politely,butthemanwasstartledatbeingspokentounexpectedly,whichwasallthemorepitifultoseebecausethemanclearlyhadsomeexperienceoftheworldandelsewherewouldcertainlyhavebeenabletoshowhissuperiorityandwouldnothaveeasilygivenuptheadvantagehehadacquired.
