“I've never seen that figure or that throne, it's all just invention, but they told me what it was I had to paint.” “How's that?” asked K. pretending not fully to understand what the painter said.

“That is a judge sitting on the judge's chair, isn't it?” “Yes,” said the painter, “but that judge isn't very high up and he's never sat on any throne like that.” “And he has himself painted in such a grand pose? He's sitting there just like the president of the court.” “Yeah, gentlemen like this are very vain,” said the painter. “But they have permission from higher up to get themselves painted like this. It's laid down quite strictly just what sort of portrait each of them can get for himself. Only it's a pity that you can't make out the