Процесс

           "Yes,"saidtheman,"butI’mnownolongerunderanyobligationtohearyourcase"-therewasoncemoreamuttering,butthistimeitwasmisleadingasthemanwavedthepeople’sobjectionsasidewithhishandandcontinued-"Iwill,however,asanexception,continuewithittoday.Butyoushouldneverarrivelatelikethisagain.Andnow,stepforward!"SomeonejumpeddownfromthepodiumsothattherewouldbeaplacefreeforK.,andK.steppedupontoit.Hestoodpressedcloselyagainstthetable,thepressofthecrowdbehindhimwassogreatthathehadtopressbackagainstitifhedidnotwanttopushthejudge’sdeskdownoffthepodiumandperhapsthejudgealongwithit.

           Thejudge,however,paidnoattentiontothatbutsatverycomfortablyonhischairand,aftersayingafewwordstoclosehisdiscussionwiththemanbehindhim,reachedforalittlenotebook,theonlyitemonhisdesk.Itwaslikeanoldschoolexercisebookandhadbecomequitemisshapenfrommuchthumbing."Nowthen,"saidthejudge,thumbingthroughthebook.HeturnedtoK.withthetoneofsomeonewhoknowshisfactsandsaid,"youareahousepainter?""No,"saidK.,"Iamthechiefclerkinalargebank."Thisreplywasfollowedbylaughteramongtherighthandfactiondowninthehall,itwassoheartythatK.couldn’tstophimselfjoininginwithit.Thepeoplesupportedthemselveswiththeirhandsontheirkneesandshookasifsufferingaseriousattackofcoughing.Evensomeofthoseinthegallerywerelaughing.