The Trial

Despite some doubts and misgivings, K. decides to dismiss his lawyer Herr Huld. He goes to Huld’s house late in the evening after work. The door is opened by a pathetic-looking man without a jacket. As he enters, K. sees Leni in her nightgown and asks the man angrily if she is his mistress. The man tells K. that she is not and that introduces himself as Rudi Block, a merchant who is also one Huld’s clients.

K., still suspicious, follows Block and Leni to the kitchen. While Leni takes some soup to the lawyer, K. questions Block about his case, which is over five years old, and Block agrees to reveal his secrets if K. will promise to tell him a secret in return. Block tells K. about how his case has drained him and how he has secretly employed five “shyster” lawyers in addition to Huld. He spends most of his days in the law offices and was actually there the day K. visited. He also talks about the “great lawyers,” who are completely inaccessible.

Leni returns and explains that Block often sleeps in the lawyer’s house because the lawyer only agrees to see Block on a whim, and even then only if Block can arrive immediately after he sends for him.