about this Court. With your experience you can well imagine how amazed I was at the
tales he told me. Since then he brings me the latest news from the Court every time he
arrives, and in this way I have gradually acquired a considerable insight into its workings.
Of course Titorelli wags his tongue too freely, and I often have to put a stopper on him, not
only because he’s certainly a liar, but chiefly because a business man like myself has so
many troubles of his own that he can’t afford to bother much about other people’s. That’s
only by the way. Perhaps — I thought to myself — Titorelli might be of some use to you, he
knows many of the Judges, and even if he can hardly have much influence himself, he can
at least advise you how to get in touch with influential men. And even if you can’t take him
as an oracle, still it seems to me that in your hands his information might become
important. For you are almost as good as a lawyer yourself. I’m always saying: The Chief Clerk is almost a lawyer. Oh, I have no anxiety about your case. Well, would you care to
go and see Titorelli? On my recommendation he will certainly do all he can for you; I
really think you should go. It needn’t be today, of course, some time, any time will do. Let
me add that you needn’t feel bound to go just because I advise you to, not in the least. No,
if you think you can dispense with Titorelli, it’s certainly better to leave him entirely out of
it. Perhaps you’ve a detailed plan of your own already drawn up and Titorelli might spoil it.
Well, in that case you’d much better not go to see him. And it would certainly mean
swallowing one’s pride to go to such a fellow for advice. Anyhow, do just as you like. Here
is my letter of recommendation and here is the address.” K. took the letter, feeling dashed,
and stuck it in his pocket. Even in the most favorable circumstances the advantages which
this recommendation could procure him must be outweighed by the damage implied in the
fact that the manufacturer knew about his trial and that the painter was spreading news of
it. He could hardly bring himself to utter a few words of thanks to the manufacturer, who
was already on his way out. “I’ll go to see the man,” he said as he shook hands at the door,
“or write to him to call here, since I’m so busy.” “I knew,” said the manufacturer, “that you
could be depended on to find the best solution. Though I must say I rather thought you
would prefer to avoid receiving people like this Titorelli at the Bank, to discuss your case
with him. Besides, it’s not always advisable to let such people get their hands on letters of
yours. But I’m sure you’ve thought it all over and know what you can do.” K. nodded and
accompanied the manufacturer a stage farther, through the waiting-room. In spite of his
outward composure he was horrified at his own lack of sense. His suggestion of writing to
Titorelli had been made merely to show the manufacturer that he appreciated the
recommendation and meant to lose no time in making contact with the painter, but, left to
himself, he would not have hesitated to write to Titorelli had he regarded the man’s
assistance as important. Yet it needed the manufacturer to point out the dangers lurking in
such an action. Had he really lost his powers of judgment to that extent already? If it were
possible for him to think of explicitly inviting a questionable character to the Bank in order
to ask for advice about his case with only a door between him and the Assistant Manager,
was it not also possible and even extremely probable that he was overlooking other
dangers as well, or blindly running into them? There wasn’t always someone at his side to
warn him. And this was the moment, just when he intended to concentrate all his energies
on the case, this was the moment for him to start doubting the alertness of his faculties!