deputy director said, “thank you, I've already found it,” and with a big package of papers, which certainly must have included many more documents than just the copy of the contract, he turned and went back into his own office.

“I can't deal with him right now,” K.

said to himself, “but once my personal difficulties have been settled, then he'll certainly be the first to get the effect of it, and he certainly won't like it.” Slightly calmed by these thoughts, K. gave the servitor, who had already long been holding the door to the corridor open for him, the task of telling the director, when he was able, that K. was going out of the bank on a business matter. As he left the bank he felt almost happy at the thought of being able to devote more of himself to his own business for a while.