Процесс

           ’suncleknockedattheveryfirstdooratgroundlevel;whiletheywaitedhesmiled,showinghisbigteeth,andwhispered,"Eighto’clock;nottheusualsortoftimetobevisitingalawyer,butHuldwon’tminditfromme."Twolarge,blackeyesappearedinthespy-hatchinthedoor,theystaredatthetwovisitorsforawhileandthendisappeared;thedoor,however,didnotopen.K.andhisuncleconfirmedtoeachotherthefactthattheyhadseenthetwoeyes."Anewmaid,afraidofstrangers,"saidK.’suncle,andknockedagain.Theeyesappearedoncemore.Thistimetheyseemedalmostsad,buttheopengasflamethatburnedwithahisscloseabovetheirheadsgaveofflittlelightandthatmayhavemerelycreatedanillusion."Openthedoor,"calledK.’suncle,raisinghisfistagainstit,"wearefriendsofDr.Huld,thelawyer!""Dr.Huldisill,"whisperedsomeonebehindthem.Inadoorwayatthefarendofanarrowpassagestoodamaninhisdressinggown,givingthemthisinformationinanextremelyquietvoice.K.’suncle,whohadalreadybeenmadeveryangrybythelongwait,turnedabruptlyroundandretorted,"Ill?Yousayhe’sill?"andstrodetowardsthegentlemaninawaythatseemedalmostthreatening,asifheweretheillnesshimself."They’veopenedthedoorforyou,now,"saidthegentleman,pointingatthedoorofthelawyer.Hepulledhisdressinggowntogetheranddisappeared.Thedoorhadindeedbeenopened,ayounggirl-K.