K. begann viel Unannehmlichkeiten vorauszusehen, vorläufig gab er es auf, den Italiener verstehen zu wollen – in der Gegenwart des Direktors, der ihn so leicht verstand, wäre es unnötige Anstrengung gewesen –, und er beschränkte sich darauf, ihn verdrießlich zu beobachten, wie er tief und doch leicht in dem Fauteuil ruhte, wie er öfters an seinem kurzen, scharf geschnittenen Röckchen zupfte und wie er einmal mit erhobenen Armen und lose in den Gelenken bewegten Händen irgend etwas darzustellen versuchte, das K. nicht begreifen konnte, obwohl er vorgebeugt die Hände nicht aus den Augen ließ.
K. began to anticipate many difficulties, he gave up trying to understand what the Italian said - with the director there, who could understand him so easily, it would have been pointless effort - and for the time being did no more than scowl at the Italian as he relaxed sitting deep but comfortable in the armchair, as he frequently pulled at his short, sharply tailored jacket and at one time lifted his arms in the air and moved his hands freely to try and depict something that K. could not grasp, even though he was leaning forward and did not let the hands out of his sight. K. had nothing to occupy himself but mechanically watch the exchange between the two men and his tiredness finally made itself felt, to his alarm, although fortunately in good time, he once caught himself nearly getting up, turning round and leaving.