say to get all of them to support him together or, if that were not possible, to at least get the support of the others for a while.

“Yes,” said the man, “but I'm now no longer under any obligation to hear your case” - there was once more a muttering, but this time it was misleading as the man waved the people's objections aside with his hand and continued - “I will, however, as an exception, continue with it today. But you should never arrive late like this again. And now, step forward!” Someone jumped down from the podium so that there would be a place free for K., and K. stepped up onto it. He stood pressed closely against the table, the press of the crowd behind him was so great that he had to press back against it if he did not want to push the judge's desk down off the podium and perhaps the judge along with it.