for the soup pan, but K.. imprisoned both her hands and said: “Give me an answer!” She
sail: “Come into the study and I’ll explain everything.” “No,” said K., “I want you to tell
me here.” She slipped her arm into his and tried to give him a kiss, but K. fended her off, saying: “I don’t want you to kiss me now.” “Joseph,” said Leni, gazing at him imploringly
and yet frankly, “surely you’re not jealous of Herr Block?” Then she turned to the
tradesman and said: “Rudi, come to the rescue, you can see that I’m under suspicion, put
that candle down.” One might have thought that he had been paying no attention, but he
knew at once what she meant. “I can’t think what you have to be jealous about either,” he
said, with no great acumen. “Nor can I, really,” replied K., regarding him with a smile.
Leni laughed outright and profited by K.’s momentary distraction to hook herself on to his
arm, whispering: “Leave him alone now, you can see the kind of creature he is. I’ve shown
him a little kindness because he’s one of the lawyer’s best clients, but that was the only
reason. What about yourself? Do you want to see the lawyer tonight? He’s far from well
today; all the same, if you like I’ll tell him you’re here. But you’re certainly going to spend
the night with me. It’s such a long time since you were here last, even the lawyer has been
asking after you. It won’t do to neglect your case! And I’ve got some information for you,
too, things I’ve found out. But the first thing is to get your coat off.” She helped him o4 of
his coat, took his hat from him, ran into the hail to hang them up, and then ran back to keep
an eye on the soup. “Shall I announce you first or give him his soup first?” “Announce me
first,” said K. He felt irritated, for he had originally intended to discuss the whole case
thoroughly with Leni, especially the question of dismissing the lawyer, and the tradesman’s
being there spoiled the situation. But again it struck him that his affairs were too important
to allow of decisive interference by a petty tradesman, and so he called back Leni, who
was already out in the lobby. “No, let him have his soup first,” he said, “it’ll strengthen him
for his interview with me, and he’ll need it.” “So you’re one of the lawyer’s clients too,”
said the tradesman quietly from his corner, as if confirming a statement. His comment was
but ill received. “What’s that got to do with you?” said K., and Leni put in: “You be quiet.”
To K. Leni said: “Well, then, I’ll take him his soup first,” and she poured the soup into a
bowl. “Only there’s a risk that he might go to sleep immediately, he always falls asleep
after food.” “What I have to say to him will keep him awake all right,” said K., who
wanted to let it be known that his interview with the lawyer promised to be momentous; he
wanted Leni to question him about it and only then would he ask her advice. But Leni
merely followed out to the letter the orders he gave her. As she passed him with the bowl
of soup she deliberately nudged him and whispered: “I’ll announce you the minute he’s
finished his soup, so that I can have you back as soon as possible.” “Get along,” said K.,
“get along with you.” “Don’t be so cross,” she said, turning right round in the doorway,
soup bowl and all.
K. stood gazing after her; now it was definitely settled that he would dismiss the
lawyer, and it was just as well that he should have no chance of discussing it beforehand
with Leni; the whole affair was rather beyond her scope and she would certainly have tried
to dissuade him, possibly she might even have prevailed on him to put it off this time, and
he would have continued to be a prey to doubts and fears until in the long run he carried