Процесс

           tookthistobejustafoibleofthepainter’s,anditirritatedhimasitmadehimlosetime."Itakeityoumustbeatrusteeofthecourt,"hesaid.Thepainterimmediatelyputhiscrayonsdown,stoodupright,rubbedhishandstogetherandlookedatK.withasmile."Alwaysstraightoutwiththetruth,"hesaid."Youwanttolearnsomethingaboutthecourt,likeitsaysinyourletterofrecommendation,butthenyoustarttalkingaboutmypicturestogetmeonyourside.Still,Iwon’tholditagainstyou,youweren’ttoknowthatthatwasentirelythewrongthingtotrywithme.Oh,please!"hesaidsharply,repellingK.’sattempttomakesomeobjection.Hethencontinued,"Andbesides,you’requiterightinyourcommentthatI’matrusteeofthecourt."Hemadeapause,asifwantingtogiveK.thetimetocometotermswiththisfact.Thegirlscouldoncemorebeheardfrombehindthedoor.Theywereprobablypressedaroundthekeyhole,perhapstheycouldevenseeintotheroomthroughthegapsintheplanks.K.forewenttheopportunitytoexcusehimselfinsomewayashedidnotwishtodistractthepainterfromwhathewassaying,orelseperhapshedidn’twanthimtogettoofarabovehimselfandinthiswaymakehimselftosomeextentunattainable,soheasked,"Isthatapubliclyacknowledgedposition?""No,"wasthepainter’scurtreply,asifthequestionpreventedhimsayinganymore.ButK.