Процесс

           Thefirstsignsofitcouldalreadybeseeninthefactthatthefirstdocumentsstillhadnotbeensubmittedeventhoughthetrialhadalreadylastedseveralmonths,andthat,accordingtothelawyer,everythingwasstillinitsinitialstages,whichwasveryeffective,ofcourse,inmakingthedefendantpassiveandkeepinghimhelpless.Thenhecouldbesuddenlysurprisedwiththeverdict,oratleastwithanotificationthatthehearinghadnotdecidedinhisfavourandthematterwouldbepassedontoahigheroffice.

           ItwasessentialthatK.takeahandinithimself.Onwinter’smorningssuchasthis,whenhewasverytiredandeverythingdraggeditselflethargicallythroughhishead,thisbeliefofhisseemedirrefutable.Henolongerfeltthecontemptforthetrialthathehadhadearlier.Ifhehadbeenaloneintheworlditwouldhavebeeneasyforhimtoignoreit,althoughitwasalsocertainthat,inthatcase,thetrialwouldneverhaveariseninthefirstplace.Butnow,hisunclehadalreadydraggedhimtoseethelawyer,hehadtotakeaccountofhisfamily;hisjobwasnolongertotallyseparatefromtheprogressofthetrial,hehimselfhadcarelessly-withacertain,inexplicablecomplacency-mentionedittoacquaintancesandothershadlearnedaboutitinwayshedidnotknow,hisrelationshipwithMissBürstnerseemedtobeintroublebecauseofit.Inshort,henolongerhadanychoicewhetherhewouldacceptthetrialorturnitdown,hewasinthemiddleofitandhadtodefendhimself.Ifhewastired,thenthatwasbad.