Chapter 23 Chapter Twenty

When K. woke up, he thought he hadn't closed his eyes at all; he saw that the room was still empty and warm, the walls were dark, the electric light above the beer tap had gone out, and the night was outside the window.Unexpectedly, he stretched himself, the cushions fell to the ground, the boards and barrels creaked, and Pepi came immediately. Only then did he realize that it was already dark and he was already fully asleep. Most of the day.During the day, the landlady asked him several times, and Gestak also came to inquire about him. It turned out that during K.'s conversation with the landlady in the morning, he had been waiting here in the dark under the pretext of drinking beer, but he always Not daring to wake K., she came here from time to time to see if K. was awake; besides, Frieda also came and stood by K.'s side for a while, at least that's what she said, but she didn't come here because of K. No, but because there are a lot of things to arrange here, and in the evening she will be back to her old business after all. "She doesn't like you anymore?" Pepi asked when bringing coffee and cake.But she is different from the past, she no longer speaks resentment, but means desolation, as if she has only realized the resentment in the world at this moment, in comparison, personal resentment is really insignificant, so it seems useless; she Talking to K. was like talking to someone with a sympathetic heart.He took a sip of the coffee, and she thought she saw that he didn't think the coffee was strong enough, so she hurried to bring a jar full of sugar.To tell the truth, in spite of her grief, she was as beautiful as ever today, and even more elaborate than last time, if anything; The hair on the forehead and temples has been carefully curled with tongs, and a small necklace hangs around the neck, hanging down into the collar of the topless blouse. Seeing that he had finally had a good night's sleep and could drink a cup of delicious coffee again, K couldn't help but secretly reached out his hand to grab a bow and wanted to untie it, but at this moment Pepi said "Don't mess with me" in annoyance. Just sit down on a barrel beside him.There was no need for K to ask, she immediately began to tell what was going on, staring at K's coffee cup as she talked, as if she couldn't do without some entertainment when she was talking, as if she couldn't even feel bitter when she complained, no matter what. It seems impossible. The first thing K figured out was that Pepi was in trouble, that he was the real culprit, and she just hated him for not seeing him.As she spoke, she nodded her head repeatedly so that K. would not raise any objections.At first he led Frieda out of the bar so Pepi could shake.Can't think of any other way to get Frieda to give up her errand, she hides in the bar there, just like a spider firmly guards in its web, grabbing all the spider threads in the palm of her hand, the spider thread inside is also She is the only one who has the bottom line; if she wants to drag her away by the nose, it is absolutely impossible, only if she is in love with some low-class person, in other words, someone who is not from the right family. Forced her to abandon her status.As for Pepi?Did she ever think about taking that job?She is a maid with a low status and not much to offer. Although, like other girls, she has all kinds of longings for a great future, and she can't help herself from dreaming. However, she never sincerely wants to get ahead, she just wants to keep her job. Just throw it away.Unexpectedly, now Frieda left the bar all of a sudden, it happened so suddenly, the boss didn't have a suitable substitute at hand, so he looked around and fell in love with Pepi. Desperately squeezed up to attract attention.At that time her affection for K. was useless to anyone; she always stayed in the small dark room downstairs, month after month, planning to live for a few years, and in case the desperate situation came to an end, She was planning to spend her whole life in that room in obscurity, but now a K flew from the sky, a hero, a savior of a poor girl, and opened her way to success.Although he didn't know anything about her, and it wasn't for her, she was still very grateful; even though she wasn't necessarily promoted, she was 80% sure of it now, and on the eve of that promotion, she spent a lot of time with him Talk heart-to-heart, whisper how much thanks to him.In her eyes, he took Frieda as a burden on his shoulders, and this act was particularly noble; he made Frieda his mistress to pave the way for Pepi, and there was a lot of selflessness in it. --Frieda is just ugly, not young, skinny, with thin and short hair, plus she's a liar, and she's always pregnant with something, after all, it has something to do with her appearance If one could tell that there was a pitiful look in her demeanor, at least it could be said that she must have other dark secrets in her heart, such as the public secret that she and Klamm were friends.At that time, the following questions still came to Pepi's mind: Could it be that K really loved Frieda?Is he deceiving himself, or is he probably just deceiving Frieda?This way, in the final analysis, it will probably only make Pei Pi fly to the top, right?Will K see the mistake by then, or will he no longer want to cover up the mistake, will he never go to Frieda, and will his heart be devoted to Pepi?This is quite obvious, and there is no need for Pepi to think about it. One reason is that as far as Frieda said, the two of them were equal opponents, and no one would say no to this. Furthermore, it was mainly Frieda's status and the honor that Frieda could use to advance her rank that blindfolded K.That's why Pepi dreamed that one day she would climb to that position, even if K didn't come to beg her, and then she could do whatever she wanted, either agreeing to K's request and losing the job, or simply rejecting it and climbing higher.She still made up her mind that at that time, she would abandon everything, degrade him, and teach him what true love is. He never expected to learn this from Frieda, and this is not the only way in the world. What the high-ranking officials and nobles can appreciate.Unexpectedly, the result was just the opposite.What's wrong with this?First of all, K. was to be blamed, and secondly, of course, it was Frieda's scheming.First of all, it was broken in K's hands; what is his plan, what kind of monster is he?What purpose is he planning to pursue, what important event has made him so busy that he has forgotten what is the closest, the best, and the most beautiful?Pepi has become a scapegoat, everything is boring, everything is in vain; who can set a fire and burn down the entire Herrenhof Hotel, burnt to nothing, without a trace, like a hearth Burned up like a scrap of paper, today he will choose Pepi as his sweetheart.Looking back, four days ago, around lunch time, Pepi went into the bar.The work in the bar is not easy at all, it is exhausting, but it also reaps a lot of benefits.Even if Pei Pi didn't just look forward to this day in life, even if she never wanted to get this job when she was thinking wildly, she still observed it with her heart countless times, and knew how to mess with this job. When I came to pick up this errand, I didn't have many things in mind.When you come to pick up this errand, you can't be sure, otherwise, it won't take a few hours, and the errand will be lost.If every move here is similar to that of the maid, it will be even worse!As a maid, you will always feel that your life is buried sooner or later, and you can’t see your bright future; it’s like working in a mine, at least staying in the secretary’s corridor for a few days, you will inevitably have this feeling; there Except for a few applicants who ran in and out during the day without even daring to lift their eyes, only two or three other maids could be seen, and they were also suffering.You are not allowed to leave the servant room at all in the morning. At that time, the secretaries do not want to be disturbed. Their meals are brought to them by the servants from the kitchen. No one is allowed to show their faces in the corridors at all times.Only when the masters are working, the maids are allowed to clean up the room, but of course it does not refer to the room where people are staying, only those who happen to be empty at the time are allowed to enter, and they must be cleaned quietly so as not to disturb the masters' work .However, those lords always stayed around for several days, and there were servants and other sloppy ghosts hanging out in the room. When the maid was finally let in, the room was already so dirty that even the flood could not clean it. It's time to clean up, how can you not make a sound?Yes, they're lords, but you'll have to fight back your nausea so you can clean up the room when they're gone.Although it can't be said that the maid doesn't know how many things to do, but it's really hard to do.I don't hear a single good word in my ears, but only scolding, especially the following sentence is the most unbearable and the most frequent, that is: I lost the file when cleaning the room.In fact, nothing was lost, and there was not a piece of paper that was not given to the boss, but in fact the files were obviously missing, but it happened that it was not the fault of the maid.So a group of committee members came, and the maids had to leave the servant's room. The committee members turned over the quilts and pillows, and searched the beds. Of course, those girls had no belongings, and only a basket could hold three or two things, but The committee members still searched for several hours.Needless to say, nothing was found.How did the file get there?How can a maid be so rare about files?But the result is always the same. First, the disappointed committee member curses and threateningly yells, and then the boss plays the same thing.No matter whether it is daytime or night, there is no quietness at all. The noise lasts until midnight, and it starts again at dawn.It would be much better if you don't have to live in the shop, but you have to live in it, because during the rest time, especially at night, the maids have to go to the kitchen to bring snacks when they are ordered.Things are often like this: at the beginning, there was a sudden knock on the door of the servant's room, and then the order was passed down, and then, he ran to the kitchen downstairs, woke up the fire boy, put down the plate of snacks ordered by the guest outside the door of the servant's room, and the attendant Take away—how miserable it all is.But that wasn't the worst of it.Worst of all was when there were no orders, that is to say, in the middle of the night, when everyone was supposed to be asleep, and most of them did at last, and sometimes someone was walking on tiptoe outside the lower room door. Come and go.So the girls got out of bed one by one—the beds were all on top of each other, because the room was so small, in fact the whole lower room was nothing more than a three-compartment cupboard—and they—went to the door and listened, Kneeling on the ground, they couldn't help hugging each other in fright.Whoever tiptoes outside the door can hear it all the time.They would all be grateful if he would come in right away and stop circling around, but nothing happened and no one came in.At this time, you have to admit to yourself that you don't need to worry about any serious disaster; when it comes, it's just someone walking back and forth outside the door, planning to order something, but then you still can't make up your mind.Maybe that was the case, maybe it wasn't the case at all.Because you really don't know those masters at all, and you hardly even glanced at them.Anyway, the maids in the room were so frightened that they almost fainted, and when the room finally became quiet again, they leaned against the wall one after another, but they didn't have the energy to go back to the bed anyway.Waiting for Pepi to go back to live again, it is this kind of hard life, on this night, she will go back to the maid again.But why?All because of K. and Frieda.She managed to get out of it with great difficulty, and now she is going to live that kind of life again. Yes, thanks to K's help, she can get out of it, of course, she has also put a lot of effort into it.Because when working as a maid there, everyone doesn't pay attention to how they dress up, even the girl who is the most groomed and the most tidy girl is so-so.Who are they dressing up for?No one can see them, at most they are cooks and firemen; whoever is satisfied with this may as well go to dress up.However, as far as the rest of the people are concerned, the place to go in and out is either their own small room or the room of the gentlemen. If they want to put on clean clothes and step in, it is called madness and waste.What I see in my eyes is always the light, and what I smell in my nose is always the stuffy air--the heater is always on--in fact, my body is always very tired.One afternoon off during the week, preferably a carefree sleep in a storage closet in the kitchen.Then why bother to dress up?Yes, you won't bother to wear it at all.Now that Pepi has suddenly been transferred to the bar, where if you want to keep your job, you have to make a 180-degree change, where you are always spinning around in front of people, there is still The sharp-eyed gentlemen are used to seeing and using good things, so there, you always have to look as pretty and cute as possible.That being said, it's a shift.Pepi can also be said, it's not that he can't adapt to changes.No matter how bad the situation is in the future, Pepi is not worried.A set of skills is indispensable for this job. She knows that she has everything, so she is quite sure, even in front of her eyes, she has this confidence, and no one can take it away, even today, a day when she struggles, no one can take it away.The only difficulty lies in how to survive this test at the beginning. For one thing, she is just a bitter maid after all. She wants clothes but no clothes, jewelry but no jewelry. Besides, those masters don’t have the patience to wait and see you slowly. It looks like it is, but I hope that a real waitress will come in three minutes, otherwise they will leave.Maybe you think this way: Since Frieda can satisfy their hearts, their demands should not be too high.But this idea is wrong.Pepi had often wondered about this question. After all, she and Frieda were often together, and at one point shared a bed with Frieda.What kind of person Frieda is, it is not easy to figure out, whoever is not paying attention, she will be blindfolded, and which master is paying attention everywhere?Only Frieda knows how ugly she is. For example, when you first saw her with her hair down, you couldn't help but secretly complain for her. Logically speaking, this kind of girl is not even worthy of being a maid; She also knew it in her heart, there were many nights when she clinged to Pepi, wrapped Pepi's hair around her head, and cried all night.But as soon as she got to work, all doubts disappeared immediately. She thought she was unparalleled in beauty, and she had the ability to make everyone think so.She knows what kind of people they are, and in fact this is exactly what she does.What's more, she blurted out a set of nonsense to deceive people, so everyone didn't have time to see her through.Naturally, over time, the diorama will inevitably be exposed. Everyone has eyes on their heads. With these eyes, sooner or later they will know what to think.But as soon as she sees that the big thing is wrong, she immediately thinks of another clever plan, the most recent one, for example, her affair with Klamm.She and Klamm are on good terms!If you don't believe me, you can get the real evidence; you can ask Klamm.How cunning, how cunning.If it so happens that you dare not ask Klamm about this matter, in case you want to inquire about something a hundred times more important than this, you will never meet him. In fact, Klamm is completely out of reach for you-only you People don't see him, for example, take Frieda, she'd be glad we could break in and see him--if that's the case, you can still get the real evidence, just wait and see.In the end, Klamm couldn't stand such gossip for long, and it mattered a lot to him that he was well-informed and could hear gossip about him in the bar and in the guest room. Right, let me refute it immediately.He did not refute the matter; so there was nothing to refute here, it was all fact.Seriously, what you saw was Frieda bringing beer into Klamm's room and coming out with money; what you didn't see was exactly what Frieda told you, and you had to Forget it.In fact, she didn't even talk about it. After all, she didn't intend to reveal such a secret; no, no, no matter where she went, she leaked the news. But enough is enough, and nothing is insisted on, and what is said is well-known anyway.But not everything.For example, one thing was never mentioned, namely, since she entered the bar, Klamm drank less beer than before, not much less, but still recognizably less, which was of course There were various reasons, or Klamm didn't like drinking much these days, or Frieda was so fascinated by him that he forgot to drink.However strange it may seem, Frieda became Klamm's mistress anyway.How can others not like someone who even Kram likes?In this way, without anyone noticing it, Frieda has become a great beauty, just the kind of girl that is needed in the bar; indeed, she is so beautiful and imposing that even the bar now I can't stand her big shot anymore.In fact, everyone wondered why she was still in the bar; although being a barmaid is a great thing, from this point of view, it is not impossible to have an affair with Klamm, but if the barmaid once becomes Klamm's mistress, why did Klamm keep her in the bar, and for so long?Why didn't he promote her?You can tell people a thousand times: there is no contradiction here; you can also say: Klamm has a reason for doing what he does; and you can also say: someday, perhaps at some point in front of you, Frieda will suddenly rise to the top All these kinds of arguments will not have much effect; people have their own opinions in their hearts, and no matter what they hear in the end, they will not change their opinions casually no matter what you say.No one doubted whether Frieda was Klamm's mistress any longer, and even those well-informed people were too tired of doubting now. "To hell with being Klum's mistress," they thought, "and if you're really Klum's mistress, we'd like to see something about whether you'll be able to get a hair." Who knows what's going on , Frieda stayed in the bar as usual, secretly delighted to see that everything was in order.But she had no prestige, and of course she could not fail to see that, indeed, she had always had a foresight about everything.A really pretty, likable girl, once she's settled in a bar, she doesn't have to do anything; as long as she's looking good, she'll be a barmaid in a bar all day, unless something really bad happens.However, a girl like Frieda must be worried about losing her job all the time. Naturally, this type of person also has brains and will not reveal anything. On the contrary, she always complains and curses about the job.But in private, he always pays attention to it.That's why Frieda saw that people were getting colder and colder. When she appeared, she stopped causing a stir, people didn't even look up, and even the attendants didn't bother her any more. Girls like Olga, look at the boss's behavior and winks, she can also see that she is getting less and less popular, it's not okay to keep making up new things about Klamm, there is always a limit to everything, so it's better Lida decided to try a new trick.As long as anyone has the ability to see through it at a glance!Although Pepi understood that there was something wrong with it, it was a pity that he didn't see it through.Frieda was determined to make a scandalous story. She, Klamm's mistress, would give herself to the first wooer she met, and if she could, marry the most despicable scumbag.The news would make a big splash, it would make a sensation, and eventually everyone would remember what it meant to be Klamm's mistress, what it meant to throw away dignity in love with a new love.The only difficulty is that you can't find the right people to play this trick.You must not pick an acquaintance, let alone an attendant, because that person may give her a supercilious look and walk away, especially if she will not be serious about this matter to the end, even though she is born with a smooth tongue, it is impossible to tell her Rumors spread that she, Frieda, could not resist him, that she could not resist him, and that within an hour she was obedient to him.Although it is necessary to find the most despicable low-class person, it must be believed that even though that kind of person is crude and vulgar by nature, she is the only one who can't forget Frieda, and she has nothing in mind but to marry Frieda. To get such a noble idea... oh my god!Although it is necessary to find an ordinary person, but if it is possible, it is better to find someone who is worse than a servant, and much lower than a servant, but you can't find someone who makes every girl laugh at you. The girl next to me, a girl with eyesight will sooner or later see something good.But where to find such a person?The girl next to her may have been looking for that kind of person all her life.At last, Frieda was lucky, probably on the night when she just came up with the trick in her mind, the land surveyor actually came to her in the bar.Land Surveyor!Yes, what was K thinking?What special plans does he have in mind?Is he going to do something special?Fame and fortune?Is he chasing fame and fortune?In that case, he should have planned something else from the start.After all, he is a wimp, and looking at his situation really rips people's hearts apart.He's a land surveyor, so maybe he has some reputation, so he has some knowledge, but if he doesn't know how to put it to use, it's nothing in the end.But he just made all kinds of requests. Although there is no backer behind him and the requests are not made publicly, people can see what kind of requests he is making. After all, it makes people angry.Did he know that even the maid, no matter how long she talked with him, was demeaning him?His mind was full of all kinds of special requests, and on the first night of his arrival, he fell headfirst into the trap star that could be seen at a glance.Isn't he ashamed?What charm did he see in Frieda?That yellow-faced thin-skinned monkey, could she really suit him?No, he didn't even look at her, all she had to do was tell him she was Klamm's mistress, and that was news to him, and now he was charmed!But now she has to move, and it goes without saying that there is no longer room for her in the Hotel Herrenhof.On the morning when she moved out, Pepi saw her, and the handymen came running upstairs, after all, everyone wanted to see the excitement.She is so powerful, even at that time, people felt sorry for her, everyone felt sorry for her, even her enemies were inevitable; her guessing was proved to be accurate from the beginning; why did she commit herself to such a person? It was a mystery in everyone's eyes, and they thought she had bad luck. Of course, those little cooks were jealous of all the waitresses, and they were so sad that they couldn't persuade them.Even Pepi was emotionally moved, even if his heart was on other things at the time, he couldn't remain indifferent all the time.She suddenly felt that Frieda was just a poor little wretch.In the final analysis, she has been unlucky for eight lifetimes. Although she behaves in a very unhappy manner, it is a pity that she is not at home. This kind of affectation cannot deceive Peipi.So what motivated her to do it?Probably because of the joy of having a new love?Ah, how could you think of going there?So what else is there?Everyone has long regarded Pepi as her successor. Where did she get such strength to make Pepi think that she is still so cute and unlovable?At that time, Pepi didn't have time to think about it. She didn't know how many things she had to arrange before she could take on that new errand.She'd be going to work in a few hours, and she didn't have her hair done yet, and she didn't have any fancy clothes, or a nice blouse, or a good pair of shoes.All this is to be obtained within a few hours; and if one is not dressed properly, one had better not even think of the job, or within half an hour the job is sure to be lost.Speaking of it, seven or eight out of ten have been done.She is naturally good at doing hair. To be honest, she was called by the proprietress to do her hair once. It only needs to have very dexterous hands. She is born with a pair of dexterous hands. Needless to say, her You can do whatever you want with a pile of hair.Clothes, there are also ready-made sources.Her two colleagues are really loyal to her. If there is a girl in their gang who is selected as a waitress, they will have some gold in their faces after all. What's more, once Pei Pi is in power in the future, she will be able to get a lot of credit from her.There is a girl who has kept a piece of precious material in her hands for a long time. It is her treasure, and it often makes other girls jealous. She must have dreamed that she will use it to a great use sooner or later. Cut off love, this kind of heart is really good.The two girls are willing to help her sew, but if they sew for themselves, they might not work harder.It was a very light and pleasant job indeed.They each sat on the bunk, one on the upper bunk and one on the lower bunk, and sang as they sewed;Now when Pei Pi thinks of this scene, he can't help but feel very heavy, thinking that everything is wasted, he has to go back to see those two friends empty-handed!What a misfortune, and K. is only to blame for his frivolity!At that time, the three of them were very satisfied with this dress, as if it was a safe bet, and at the last moment, they saw that they could sew another ribbon, and the last bit of doubt disappeared.Isn't this dress really beautiful?Although Pepi didn't have a second dress to replace, and he had to wear this one all day long, it was wrinkled and stained with a few stains, but he could still see how beautiful this dress was, even that Barnaba The stinky mother-in-law can't come up with a better one.In addition, it can be tight or loose, top or bottom, so that the clothes can be changed even though they are the same clothes--this is a unique advantage, and it is indeed her invention.Of course, it's not too difficult to make clothes for her. Pepi is not a bragging, it's obvious—any young, strong girl can wear anything.It was much harder to get shirts and boots, and that's where things actually started to go wrong.Although her two girlfriends tried their best to help, they just couldn't do what they wanted.They scraped together and could only find rough shirts, and they needed to be mended. She couldn't get high-heeled boots, so she had to use slippers instead.They all comforted her and said: Frieda is not very well dressed after all, and sometimes she walks around in front of people with a sloppy look, and the guests would rather call the wine cellar to wait on them.Even so, it doesn't matter that Frieda is sloppy, she has already won favor and prestige; it is rare for a woman of status to look like a big face and carelessly dressed, but it looks extraordinarily charming--but when she met Pepi What will happen to such a fledgling novice?Besides, Frieda couldn't dress up even if she wanted to, she was simply vulgar; if someone was born with yellow skin, then of course they should resign themselves to their fate, and there was no need to add a topless bra like Frieda did. A cream-colored blouse, which was swirled around, dazzled the eyes with the yellow.Even if it wasn't for that reason, she was too stingy, and she was reluctant to dress decently; she would never let go of the money she earned, and no one knew what she was up to.She doesn't need to spend a penny on her work, and she can get over it by talking nonsense and playing tricks. Pepi doesn't want to do this, and she can't do it, so she should be so beautiful that she can be popular at the beginning. Full attention.If she was able to do it if she was clever, then no matter how cunning Frieda was or how stupid K. was, she would succeed in the end.It can be said that it went very smoothly at the beginning.She has roughly figured out the few tricks of this line of work, as well as the situation that must be understood in advance.Once in the bar, it's like duck to water.Frieda was not at work, and no one noticed.It was not until the next day that a guest asked about Frieda.She didn't do anything wrong, the boss agreed, but he was so anxious the first day, he stayed in the bar all the time, and later, he just came and went every once in a while, and at the end, he looked in the cash box Not a single penny is bad, and the average income is even a little more than when Frieda was there, so I leave everything to Pepi.She made some innovations when she came.Back then, Frieda even had to take care of his attendants, at least he had to take care of the account, especially when someone was watching, and he had to show his hand. This was not out of enthusiasm for work, but out of greed and intention to monopolize power, lest others would encroach on him. Her rights, Pepi, delegated all this work to the cellar keeper, who were much better at it after all.Now, she has more time to wait on the room, and the guests arrive as soon as they are called; although she is busy, she can find time to chat with everyone, which is different from Frieda, who is said to be The whole person was entrusted to Klamm, and she regarded it as an insult to Klamm if someone else said a word or got close.Of course, this can be regarded as her cleverness, because once people get close, it is tantamount to opening a good door.Pepi hated this kind of method, and besides, if he did it at the beginning, he wouldn't get any benefit anyway.Pepi was polite to everyone, and everyone was polite to her.You can see that everyone is happy with this change; catch up with those old men who are tired of business, and finally get out and sit down to drink a beer, you say something, shrug your shoulders, throw a wink, and discipline them to change their appearance .Everyone felt itchy to touch Pepi's curly hair, and Pepi had to do it a dozen times a day. Seeing these curls and bows, everyone couldn't help being fascinated, even K. Always so absent-minded.In this way, the tense days flew by day by day. Although there were many things, it went smoothly.As long as this kind of day doesn't fly away in the blink of an eye, it will be fine, as long as there are a few more days!Even if you work hard and are exhausted, four days is still too little, maybe one more day will do, but four days is too little.Of course, even within four days, Pepi met many good-hearted people and made many friends. Whenever she came with a beer, she saw people glance at her. If she could trust such glances, she Guan Bao is immersed in the vast ocean of friendship. There is a document named Buttermil who fell in love with her. He gave her this small chicken heart necklace, and embedded his own photo in the chicken heart. Of course It can be seen that he has a thick skin; although something like this happened, it still only lasted four days. If Pepi strikes while the iron is hot, within four days, although Frieda will not be completely forgotten, people will still forget her. If she hadn't spread the astonishing pornographic news everywhere at the beginning, and tried her best to restore it, people might have forgotten it, and maybe they would have forgotten it long ago. Who knows that she used that trick, and everyone thought she was It's a news person, probably just wanting to see her again out of curiosity; it's all because K, a boring guy, did a good job, which made everyone feel so disgusted with a character who was already disgusting to the point of disgust Of course, as long as Pepi is still in front of their eyes, they will not let him go, but most of them are old masters, slow-witted and slow-moving, and when they meet newcomers It takes a while for a waitress to get used to it. Although this personnel change is very beneficial, it will take a few days for those masters to get used to it, maybe only five days. But four days is still too short, no matter what, Pepi is still used as a temporary substitute in the end.Besides, it was a great misfortune that, during the first two days of the four days, Klamm did not come into the hall below, although he was in the village.When he comes, Pepi will encounter a fate-determining test, and she happens to be not afraid of this test at all, and it is this test that she misses day and night.She was not going to be Klamm's mistress, nor was she going to get there by telling nonsense, of course, it's better not to talk about such things, but then again, if it didn't concern her, she could at least talk to Fred. Like Lida, he put the beer on the table in a beautiful posture. Even if he didn't have Frieda's gallantry, he would say hello and say goodbye graciously. If Klamm really wanted to find something in the eyes of a girl, then Look into Pepi's eyes and discipline him to get what he wants.But why doesn't he come?Is it a coincidence?Pepi thought so too.During those two days, she looked forward to him all the time, even at night. "Here is Klamm," she kept thinking, darting back and forth, simply because she was anxiously waiting and wanted to be the first to greet him.This one disappointment after another made her discouraged; that's probably why she fell short.她一抽出点工夫，就偷偷走到那条勤杂工严禁人内的走廊上，缩在角落里等着。 "只要克拉姆这下来到就好了，"她想道，"只要我能把那老爷带出房，抱到楼下大厅里就好了。不管多重，也累不垮我。"可他偏偏不来。楼上那条走廊上静得很，要不身历其境，想也想不出有多静呢。那里静得叫人呆不久，这份静把人逼走了。但是，佩披却一次一次跑去：十次有八次给逼走，十次有八次又跑去。这么做当然没名堂。要是克拉姆想来，就会来，要是不想来，佩披勾也勾他不出来，哪怕她躲在那儿角落里，心跳得快把人憋死也罢。这真没名堂，可要是他不来，几乎什么都没名堂啦。谁知他偏偏不来。今天佩披才知道克拉姆不来的原因。如果当时弗丽达能撞见佩按双手按在胸口，躲在楼上走廊里，躲在角落里，管教她觉得有趣透顶。克拉姆不下楼，是因为弗丽达不准呀。这倒不是靠她求出来的，她才求不动克拉姆的心呢。不过，她不愧是个蜘蛛精，关系多得没人闹得清。碰到佩披跟客人讲什么话，总是堂而皇之，连隔桌也听得清。弗丽达可没什么要讲的，她把啤酒一放上桌就走开；只听得见她那条绸裙子窸窸窣窣的声音，只有买裙子，她才舍得花钱呢。万一碰到她有什么话要讲，也不肯堂而皇之，总是弯下腰跟客人悄声细语，轻得隔桌客人只有竖起耳朵来静听。固然她讲的八成是鸡毛蒜皮小事，她跟对方还是有点关系，即便不是个个都有关系也罢，她总是靠一个关系拉一个关系，如果多半关系都断了--谁愿意老为弗丽达操心呀？ --可是，这儿那儿总还有一个关系抓得牢牢的呢。如今她开始利用这种关系啦。 Ｋ偏偏让她这么利用一下；他非但不跟她守在一起，好好看住她，反而一刻也不呆在家里，总是四处溜达，到处跟人论长道短，事事关心，独独不关心弗丽达，后来为了让她更加自由些，竟还迁出桥头客栈，搬进那所空校舍里。这真算得上新婚生活的一个绝妙开场。说起来，自然轮不到佩披来数落Ｋ一顿，责怪他不想办法忍着点跟弗丽达过日子；谁跟弗而达过日子也受不了呀。可是，他干吗不就此跟她一刀两断呢？干吗几次三番回到她身边去呢？干吗到处打转，叫人还以为他在替她奔走呢？看样子倒真像他只有跟弗丽达来往了，才发现自己原来是个窝囊废，但愿自己能配得上弗丽达，但愿自己好歹也能抖起来，为了这个缘故，就此暂时不跟她相处，到日后闲下来才能尝尝苦尽甘来的滋味。另一方面，弗丽达倒不白白糟蹋时间，当初八成是她把Ｋ带到那所校舍去的，如今她就守在那里，牢牢看住赫伦霍夫旅馆，牢牢看住Ｋ。她手下掌握着几个头儿尖儿的信使：Ｋ的两个助手，Ｋ居然统统交给她支配，这可叫人弄不懂，哪怕了解Ｋ的为人，也弄不明白这是怎么回事。她打发他们去见她那批老朋友，提醒人家她还活在人间，抱怨自己不该让Ｋ这号人抓在手掌心，煽动人家跟佩披作对，通知人家自己马上就到，请人家帮忙，求人家别对克拉姆露出半点口风，一副模样装得好像不能让克拉姆伤心，好像为了这缘故，怎么也不能让他踏进楼下酒吧间了。她对人家先是说什么这可以免得克拉姆伤心，接着又得心应手地回过头来说什么看住克拉姆，别让他再下楼来，对老板不无利害关系。楼下只有佩披在侍候客人，克拉姆怎能下来呢？说真的，这不能怪老板，到底再也找不着比这个佩披更好的替工啦，可惜这个替工还不够理想，只当几天也不行。对弗丽达这种种活动，Ｋ一点也不知情，赶上他不出去溜达时，他就躺在她脚边，心里可糊里糊涂的，她嘛，心里却在盘算还有几个钟头就可以回到酒吧间去呢。那两个助手倒不光是给弗而达跑腿，而且还给她效劳，惹Ｋ吃醋，让他那颗心一直热辣辣的！弗丽达从小就认识那两个助手，到如今彼此间自然是无话不谈了，但是为了替Ｋ脸上增点光彩，眼下反而你贪我爱起来，对Ｋ说，就此大难临头，日后免不了大闹一场相思病。此外，弗丽达要怎么办，Ｋ就怎么办，连前后不对头、一点没名堂的事也一律照办，一方面，他听凭那两个助手燃起他的炉火，一方面，他独自出去溜达时又让他们三人一起呆着。他几乎像弗丽达的第三个助手。这一来，弗丽达凭着自己观察的结果，终于决心一施妙计：决定回去。目前倒正是时候，真叫人钦佩，弗丽达这个滑头竟看清了这个事实，而且还加以利用；这种眼力和这种决心正是弗丽达的绝技；如果佩披有这套本领，她的一生经历管保不同啰。假如弗丽达在那所校舍里再呆上一两天，就怎么也撵不走佩披啦，从此她当定了女招待，既得众人欢心，又得众人扶持，挣下的钱多得可以买到一柜子奇装异服，把她那口空空如也的衣柜都装满，只消再多一两天工夫，不管施什么诡计，再也拦不住克拉姆到大厅里来啦，他会进来喝喝酒，享享清福，万一看出少了弗丽达的话，对这一人事变动也会大感满意的；只消再多一两天工夫，弗丽达，还有她那件桃色新闻，还有她那种种关系，还有那两个助手，还有一切的一切，统统都会给人忘得一干二净，她从此再也不会在大庭广众之下抛头露面啦。到那时，她或许有本领把Ｋ抓得更紧，就算有这个能耐，难道她当真懂得爱他吗？不，那也不见得。因为连Ｋ这种人也不消一天就会见她腻烦的，也会看清她用尽一切办法，凭她那所谓的美貌，她那所谓的坚贞，特别是利用克拉姆那所谓的爱情骗他上当的恶劣行径；只消再过一天，用不着多，他就会把她撵出屋，连带她跟那两个助手串演的整出鬼把戏一起滚蛋；请想想看，连Ｋ这种人不消两天也能看穿啦。谁知她正遭到两面夹攻，眼看的确只有死路一条了--可Ｋ偏偏笨得还给她留着最后一线生机，--就在这节骨眼上，她突然一下子脱身了。真是突然一下子--事情来得简直出人意外，异乎寻常，--突然一下子，她竟把照旧爱着她、照旧追求她的Ｋ赶跑了，外加她的一批朋友和那两个助手施了压力，她在老板眼里就此成了救命恩人，凭着她那件桃色新闻，她的魅力比早先更要大得多，上等人也好，下等人也好，明明都在动她脑筋，谁知一时竟落在下等人的手里，转眼间又照例把他甩掉了，他也罢，其他所有人也罢，又照旧近不了她身啦；只是早先大家对这一切大大怀疑，如今却又深信不疑了。所以她回来了，老板朝佩披瞟了一眼，心里拿不定主意--明摆着她是把好手，难道要拿她开刀吗？ --可是不久他给人说服了，替弗丽达说的好话真是多极了，最要紧的当然是她会让克拉姆重新回到大厅来。今天晚上，我们就是呆在这大厅里呢。佩按可不打算等弗丽达得意洋洋地来接班。她早把钱箱交给老板娘，如今可以走了。楼下下房里那张床铺在等着她呢，她的朋友，两个哭哭啼啼的姑娘，都会迎她进去，剥掉她身上那件衣服，扯掉她头发上那些缎带，统统都塞进个角落里，藏得严严密密，决不会让人无谓想起最好忘怀的那段时光。之后她就要拿起提桶扫帚，咬紧牙关，动手干活啦。不过，她另一方面还得把一切都告诉Ｋ，要没人提醒，他到眼前也不会了解呢，听了这番话，他或许就此明白过来，晓得自己对佩披有多狠，把佩披害得有多苦。不用说，他在这件事上也无非是受人利用了，而且还吃了亏呢。

佩披讲完了。她深深吸了口气，拭掉脸上、眼里的几滴泪水，看看Ｋ，点点头，好像是说，她倒霉其实无所谓，反正她会逆来顺受，因此根本用不着人家帮忙，也不需要安慰，更犯不上Ｋ费心，虽说她还年轻得很，也多少晓得怎么做人了，她倒霉确实也是意料中的事罢了，不过，Ｋ这个人才有所谓呢，她想给他指明他是怎么种角色，即使她心头的种种希望都化为泡影了，她还是认为有必要一提。 "你这真是胡思乱想，佩披，"Ｋ说。 "因为你决不是目前才看出那种种情况来的；不消说，那一切无非是你们做侍女的在楼下那间小暗房里想出来的罢了，在那里想想倒正合适，在这儿客来人往的酒吧间里就显得可笑啦。你抱着那么种念头，在这儿可保不住差使，那是不在话下的。就连你那件衣服和你那种发式，虽给你大吹特吹了一通，其实也无非是你们在房间暗头里，躺在床上想人非非罢了，我敢说，在那儿的确显得很漂亮，在这儿可要叫人笑话，不是暗笑就是明笑。至于说到你那番话的其余几点呢？原来我吃了亏，上了当，是吗？不，好佩披，我可跟你一样，半点也没吃亏，半点也没上当。不错，弗丽达眼下是离开了我，照你说，是跟个助手私奔了，你是看到了点真相，她确实绝不可能嫁给我，不过，我见她已经腻烦这一点，可完完全全不对头，更不必谈什么我在第二天就把她撵跑这种话了，也用不着说她会像其他娘们骗男人那样骗我了。你们做诗女的在钥匙孔里偷看惯了，就此凭这一孔之见，对全局有了那一套想法，下了那一套结论，好是好，可惜不对头。因此，比如拿我说吧，在这件事上就远远不如你知道得多。弗丽达离开我的原因，你能讲得头头是道，我可半点也讲不出。照我看，最讲得通的一层道理是给你提到了，但是你没有琢磨透，那就是我不把她放在心上。这虽不幸是事实，我是不把她放在心上，不过这里头也自有原因，跟这次讨论可不相干；万一她回到我身边，我自然高兴，但又会马上不把她放在心上的。就是这么回事。她跟我同居那时，我经常出去，正如你大大挖苦的那样，出去到处溜达；如今既然她走了，我几乎闲得没事干，我累了，巴不得连半点事也不于呢。难道你没什么指点我吗，佩披？""有啊，有啊，"佩披说，她突然一下子精神抖擞了，一把抓住Ｋ的肩头，"我们俩都上了当，让我们俩牢牢守在一起吧。随我到楼下侍女那儿去吧！""只要你还说什么受骗上当那种气话，我跟你就说不到一块。你总是自称上当，因为你觉得这么说说既动听又动心。可事实上你确是不配于那活。照你看来，我比哪个人都不懂事，要是连我这种人都看得出来，可见你一定不配啦。你是个好心人，佩披；不过这真不容易看出来，比如我吧，开头还以为你心狠气做呢，其实并非如此，这只是因为你不配干那活，才把你给搞糊涂了。我可不打算说，这个活太重要，你干不了；这个活也许还算不上头儿尖儿的呢，如果仔细看看，是比你以前那个活多少体面些，可大体上也没多大差别，确是性质相似，简直分也分不出来；说真的，几乎可以肯定说一句，当女招待还不如做侍女，因为做侍女嘛，老是在秘书堆里打转，但是当女招待嘛，虽说可以到上房去侍候秘书长，也要跟平民百姓打不少交道，比如说，跟我吧；实际上，我除了可以在这儿酒吧间坐坐，哪儿也没我坐的地方--难道跟我这号人打交道，是莫大的光荣吗？唔，你是这么看的，也许你这么想自有道理吧。不过，正是这么想，你才不配干这个活。这活虽跟其他活一样，可对你来说，好比是天堂，因此你干什么都过分热心，一身打扮照你看就像仙女一样--其实并不一样，--你生怕丢了这个差使，自以为经常受欺，想用股异乎寻常的甜劲儿来拉拢人，照你看来，人人都可能撑你腰，谁知这下子反而叫他们烦心，反而叫他们厌恶，因为他们在旅馆里原想图个清静，可不愿听女招待发愁来个愁上加愁。自从弗丽达离开后，没有一个贵宾看出来，这说法倒也不是讲不通，但是今天他们看出来了，都在真心想念弗丽达呢，因为弗丽达办起事来的确大不相同。不管她骨子里是怎么种角色，也不管她多看重她那个差使，她侍候人方面还是经验丰富，又冷静又沉着，固然你什么也没学到，你不也是那么亲口强调来的吗？你有没有注意过她的眼风？那不仅仅是当女招待的眼风，简直像做老板娘的在左顾右盼呢。什么都逃不过她的眼睛，而且连个个人都看在眼里，给她眼光一扫，那股余力还足以把人家的魂儿都摄住呢。也许她是瘦得有点皮包骨头，是上了点年纪，也想不出有比她更乱的头发，可那有什么大不了呢？ --跟她的真正好处一比，那都是些芝麻小事，有谁对这种缺陷感到不顺眼，无非是说明他对大事没见识罢了。自然步，谁也不能就此责备克拉姆，你没法相信克拉姆爱弗丽达，那只有怪你这姑娘年纪轻，没经验，看法不对头。在你眼里，克拉姆是高不可攀的，那也有理，因此你就以为弗丽达也近不了他身。你看错了。在这点上，即使我拿不出铁证，也情愿相信弗丽达亲口讲的话。不管你觉得多么靠不住，不管跟你那套对人生、官场、豪门、女色魔力的看法多么格格不人，事实总是事实，眼下你我并肩坐在这儿，我双手捧住你的手，想来克拉姆和弗丽达也照样并肩坐在一起，好像这是天经地义，他也是自愿下楼的，确是匆匆下来，可没人躲在走廊上专门等着他，其他什么事也不管，克拉姆总得劳驾下楼来呀，说到弗丽达衣着上的短处，是引起了你反感，他倒不觉得有什么不顺眼的。你不信她那一套！你不知道你就此露出了马脚，这正好表明你缺乏经验！即使有人一点也不知道她跟克拉姆相好那回事，看看她的一颦一笑、一举一动，也不会看不出她受过什么人熏陶，这种人比你我和全村人都要高明得多；也不会看不出，他们两人谈起话来跟一般顾客同侍女之间的打情骂俏不同，看来那种谈心方式倒正是你做人的目的呢。可我把你给冤枉了。弗丽达的长处你倒看得很清楚，你看到她的眼力、她的决心、她的威力，不消说，可惜你统统误解了，还以为她自私自利地一心只为自己打算，存心不良，甚至拿来当武器跟你作对。不，佩披，哪怕她有那么种暗器，隔得那么近也放不出呀。说到自私自利呢？倒不妨说，她放弃了眼前所有的一切和日后享有的一切，给我们个机会证明一下是否配高升，可我们俩都叫她失望了，势必逼得她回到这儿来了。我不知道是不是这么回事，一点也摸不清自己错在哪里，只有跟你比一比，才多少明白这种事：好像我们俩只要像弗丽达那样沉着、那样实事求是，心头所追求的目的就不难达到，也不消煞费苦心，可我们劲使得太足，闹得太凶，孩子气太重，经验又太少啦。我们想达到目的，就哭啊，抓啊，拖啊--正像小孩子拖桌布，什么也没捞到，反而把所有好东西都带下了地，就此再也够不着了。我不知道是不是这么回事，可我敢说，比你讲的那一套多少像一点。 ""啊呀，"佩披说，"你原来爱着弗丽达呢，因为她把你扔了；她不在眼前，爱她倒不难。不过，你爱怎么着就怎么着吧，就算你什么都对，连拿我当笑柄也罢，可你现在打算怎么办呢？弗丽达已经离开你，无论照我讲的一套也好，照你谈的一套也罢，休想她再回到你身边，就算她要回来，在这以前你也得有个地方安身，天又冷，何况你既没事做，又没床睡，就上我们那儿去吧，你会喜欢我那两个女朋友的，我们会让你过得舒舒服服，你就帮我们做事，这种活叫姑娘们自己干起来，实在吃不消，今后我们姑娘就用不着样样都光靠自己啦，在夜里再也不会心惊肉跳啦！上我们那儿去吧！我那两个女朋友也认识弗丽达，我们要把她的事统统讲给你听，让你听个腻。go!我们也有弗丽达的照片，统统都要拿给你看。当初弗丽达可不像今天那么神气，你简直认不出她来，也许只有看了那对眼睛才认得出，甚至在当时她那副眼神都流露出她多疑、谨慎呢。好吧，你去吗？ ""这行吗？昨天我刚在你们那条走廊上给人闯见，闹得满城风雨呢。 ""这都因为给人闯见了，可你跟我们在一起，就不会给人闯见。除了我们三个人，谁也不会知道你。啊，往后的日子才美呐。即便是眼下，那儿的日子也叫我觉得比前一会儿要好受得多。现在我没办法只好离开这儿，说不定也落不到什么损失吧。听着，哪怕当时只有我们三个人在一起，我们倒也不觉得心烦，一个人总得让苦日子过得甜美些，我们年纪还轻就尝到苦日子的滋味喽，说起来，我们就三人死守在一起，在那儿尽可能过得美好，你会特别喜欢亨莉爱塔的，也会喜欢爱米丽亚，我跟她们讲过你的事，那种故事在那儿房里听起来，总不会教人相信，就好像房外当真出不了什么事似的，房里是又温暖又舒适又局促，而我们三人挤得格外紧；不，虽说我们只有互相依靠，倒也没有彼此嫌弃；相反，我一想到那两个女朋友，简直高兴自己又要回去了。我干吗要比她们过得好呢？当初我们三人连成一条心，正是因为大家都没有出头的日子，可如今我到底出了头，才跟她们分了手。我当然没把她们忘掉，牵肠挂肚的头一件事，就是怎么给她们办点事；尽管我自己的差使还不牢靠--究竟怎么个不牢靠，我也不摸底，--可我已经跟老板谈到亨莉爱塔和爱米丽亚的事了。在亨莉爱塔身上，老板倒不是一点情面也不讲，至于爱米丽亚呢，必须承认，她比我们两人年纪都大，跟弗丽达差不多，可别指望老板提拔她。想想看吧，她们都不愿离开，明知道在那儿过的是种苦日子，可都甘心受苦，真是好人啊，我们分别那时，她们掉了眼泪，我看这多半是因为可怜我，一来，不忍心看我离开我们那一间房间，到外面冷风里去--我们在那儿还以为房外的一切都是冷冰冰的呢，--二来，不忍心看我闯进陌生的大房间去接触陌生的大人物，这为来为去无非是为了混口饭吃，其实我们三人一起过日子，到那工夫，我也毕竟可以凑合过去啦。如今我重新回去，她们大概一点也不觉得意外，只是想要顺我的心意，才会流下几滴眼泪，叹惜我的命不好罢了。但是等她们看到了你，就看出我走掉倒也是件好事。这下她们就会高兴如今我们总算有了个男人当帮手，做保缥；眼看什么都得守秘密，有了这个秘密，我们三人的心连得更紧了，这真要叫她们乐到极点呢。来，请上我们那儿去吧！决不要你尽什么义务，你用不着像我们那样老呆在我们房里。等到来年春天，你在别处找到安身地方，要是不愿再跟我们一起过，那么要走就走；不过，即使到那时，你当然也得保守秘密，别把我们出卖掉，因为那一来，我们在赫伦霍夫旅馆的日子就算完啦，自然啰，你跟我们一起过时，在其他方面也得小心，哪儿也别去露面，要么是我们认为太平的地方，处处都得听我们的；你只有这点受管束，你跟我们都得把这点事放在心上，除此以外，什么都随你便，我们分给你干的活可累不死你，这你用不着害怕。话说到这儿，你去吗？ ""到春天还有多久？ "Ｋ问。"到春天？ "佩披照着说了一遍。"这儿的冬天长，很长很长呢，而且也没个变化。可我们在那儿楼下从不抱怨，我们吃不到冬天的苦头。是啊，有一天春天也会来到，还有夏天呢，想来总也有个夏天吧；可如今回想起来，仿佛春夏两季都短得不到两天似的，就连在那种日子里，就连在最美好的日子里，就连在那时候，也往往下雪呢。 "

这工夫，门打开了。佩披吓了一跳，她心坎里还以为自己不知离开酒吧间多远了呢，不过来的倒不是弗丽达，原来是老板娘。她装出一副吃惊的样子，好像没料到Ｋ还在这儿。Ｋ一边辩解说是在等她，一边连声感谢她让他在这儿过夜。老板娘弄不懂Ｋ为什么等她。Ｋ说他以为她再要跟他谈次话，如果弄错了，那就请她原谅，此外还说什么反正他马上就得走，他本在学校里当看门的，当时随随便便走开了，到如今出来得可太久啦，这都怪昨天的传讯误了事，对这号事他还没多少经验呢，自然从此不会再像昨天那样给老板娘添麻烦啦。临走，他还鞠了个躬。老板娘好像在梦里头那样看看他。这一看，倒把Ｋ多拉住了一会儿。这时她笑了笑，可以说，只有看到Ｋ脸上那份惊讶，她才醒过来；好像她原来等着人家回她一笑，可看看对方面不改色，这才醒过来。"你昨天厚着脸皮议论过我的衣服吧。"Ｋ不记得了。"你想不起了？那你不光是脸皮厚，而且还加上胆子小呢。"Ｋ借口昨天身子疲劳，很可能讲过什么胡话，但是现在怎么也想不起了。他能议论老板娘衣服什么啊？他生平还没见过那么漂亮的衣服呢。至少也没见过哪个老板娘穿着那么种衣服做事来的。"别跟我来这一套啦！"老板娘赶紧接口说。"我再也不想听你议论我的衣服。我的衣服关你什么事？干脆一句话，往后不许你再议论我的衣服。"Ｋ又鞠了一躬，就向门口走去。老板娘冲着他背后嚷道："你说你从没见过哪个老板娘穿着那么种衣服做事，你这是什么意思？你讲那么种胡话，是什么意思？真是胡说八道。你这是什么意思？"Ｋ回过身来请老板娘不要发火。那种话当然是胡说八道。说到头来，他对衣服可什么也不懂。在他这等人眼里，不管什么衣服，只要干净，没打过补钉，就很阔气。当时他只觉得惊奇，老板娘怎么会在夜里穿上那么件漂亮的夜礼服，跑到那儿走廊上，跟那些一身寒酸相的人混在一起，就是这么回事。"好啊，"老板娘说，"看样子你倒终于想起昨天讲的那句话啦。你竟然又胡说一通，来个添枝加叶。不错，你对衣服确是什么也不懂。可我规规矩矩对你说一句，你既然不懂，还是请你别充内行，胡说什么衣服阔气，什么夜礼服穿着不合式这类话……我还要告诉你……"说到这里，她浑身上下仿佛直打冷颤，"我的衣服根本不关你什么事，听明白吗？"眼看Ｋ不声不响，转身又要走，她就追问了一句："穿衣服的学问你究竟打哪儿学来的？"Ｋ耸耸肩，说是他这方面没什么学问。"你没半点学问，"老板娘说。"好得很，那也别装做有什么学问。上账房间去，我给你看点东西，但愿你看了从此不再厚着脸皮乱议论。"她领先走出了门；佩被借口跟Ｋ结账，一阵风似地赶去：他们俩一下子想出了办法，这倒不难，因为Ｋ晓得那个院子里有扇门通小巷，院门旁边还开着扇小门，回头佩披在小门后站上个把钟头，一听到笃笃笃三下就把门打开。

账房间就在酒吧间对面，只消穿过门廊就到了，老板娘早已站在灯光通明的账房间里，急躁地望着Ｋ。不料半路上又出了个岔子。原来盖斯塔克一直等在门廊上，想跟Ｋ谈谈。甩掉他可不容易，连老板娘也走了过来，责怪盖斯塔克不该来打岔。"你们上哪儿去？你们上哪儿去？"门关上后，还听得见盖斯塔克在门外这么嚷嚷，一边喊一边煞风景地唉声叹气，还夹着几下咳嗽。 这房间并不大，烧得实在太热了。横里两端，挨墙搁着一张账台和一只保险箱，直里两边，靠墙放着一口衣柜和一张长榻。那口衣柜占了一大半房间；不但把直里一边墙都占了，而且横里也弄得房间很窄，装着三扇拉门，可以拉到底。老板娘指指长榻，意思是叫Ｋ坐下，她自己在账台前那张转椅上坐下。"你曾经学过裁缝吗？"老板娘问。"没，从没学过，"Ｋ说。"你目前是干什么的？""土地测量员。""那是干什么的？"Ｋ解释了一番，这可听得她昏昏欲睡。"你讲的不是实话。干吗不讲实话？""你也不讲实话呀。""我？原来你又要厚着脸皮胡说起来了？就算我没讲实话--难道我还得对你担保讲实话吗？到底我是怎么样不讲实话来的？""你装得倒像个老板娘，其实哪里只是个老板娘。""倒听听你说的！什么都给你看出来啦！那么我另外还算个什么呢？老实说，你的脸皮真厚到家了。""我不知道你另外还算个什么。我只知道你是个老板娘，而且还穿着件不合老板娘身分的衣服，据我所知，这儿村里再也没人穿这种衣服的。""好，我们这可谈到正题啦。其实你心里也憋不住，或许你脸皮还不算厚，你无非像个娃娃，晓得有什么无聊事，心里可怎么也憋不住。好，说出来吧！这种衣服有什么特别的地方？""我一说，你免不了生气。""哪儿话，我可免不了笑出来，那不过是小孩子家乱嚼舌头。到底是什么种衣服？""你硬要听吗？好，那种衣服料子是不错，挺值钱，可是式样过时了，做工太讲究，常常要翻新，穿旧了，论你年纪也好，身材也好，地位也好，都不配你穿。大约一个礼拜前，我在这儿门廊上头一回看见你，那身衣服可叫我看呆了。""这下到底把话都抖出来了！式样过时了，做工太讲究，你另外还说什么来着？你怎么样样都看得出来？""我凭两只眼睛就看得出来，这可用不着什么训练。""你不费什么事就看得出来。用不着到哪儿打听，就晓得时兴什么式样。这下我可少你不了啦，因为老实说，我好穿漂亮衣服。我告诉你，这口衣柜里净是衣服，不知你要怎么说呢？"她把拉门统统拉开，只见衣服一件件紧紧挨着，把整口衣柜都塞满了，多半衣服是深色的，灰色的、棕色的、黑色的都有，一件件都仔细挂着，摊开着。"这统统是我的衣服，照你看来，都是式样过时了，做工太讲究了。可这不过是我楼上房里放不下的衣服，我房里还有满满两衣柜呢，两柜子衣服，每口衣柜都跟这一口差不多大。你可没想到吧？""哪里。这倒没出我意外；我不是说过你哪里只是个老板娘，你心里还另有打算呢。""我只打算穿得漂漂亮亮罢了，你要不是个傻瓜，就是个娃娃，再不就是个危险分子，心眼儿坏得很。走，走吧！"转眼间Ｋ到了门廊上，盖斯塔克又一把抓住了他的衣袖，谁知这时竟还听见老板娘冲着他背后嚷道："明天我就要拿到件新衣服，说不定要打发人找你来呢。"