Arrest - Conversation with Mrs. Grubach - Then Miss Bürstner

           SomeonemusthavebeentellingliesaboutJosefK.,heknewhehaddonenothingwrongbut,onemorning,hewasarrested.EverydayateightinthemorninghewasbroughthisbreakfastbyMrs.Grubach’scook-Mrs.Grubachwashislandlady-buttodayshedidn’tcome.Thathadneverhappenedbefore.K.waitedalittlewhile,lookedfromhispillowattheoldwomanwholivedoppositeandwhowaswatchinghimwithaninquisitivenessquiteunusualforher,andfinally,bothhungryanddisconcerted,rangthebell.Therewasimmediatelyaknockatthedoorandamanentered.Hehadneverseenthemaninthishousebefore.Hewasslimbutfirmlybuilt,hisclotheswereblackandclose-fitting,withmanyfoldsandpockets,bucklesandbuttonsandabelt,allofwhichgavetheimpressionofbeingverypracticalbutwithoutmakingitveryclearwhattheywereactuallyfor."Whoareyou?"askedK.,sittinghalfuprightinhisbed.Theman,however,ignoredthequestionasifhisarrivalsimplyhadtobeaccepted,andmerelyreplied,"Yourang?""Annashouldhavebroughtmemybreakfast,"saidK.Hetriedtoworkoutwhothemanactuallywas,firstinsilence,justthroughobservationandbythinkingaboutit,butthemandidn’tstaystilltobelookedatforverylong.Insteadhewentovertothedoor,openeditslightly,andsaidtosomeonewhowasclearlystandingimmediatelybehindit,"HewantsAnnatobringhimhisbreakfast."Therewasalittlelaughterintheneighbouringroom,itwasnotclearfromthesoundofitwhethertherewereseveralpeoplelaughing.