Amerika by Franz Kafka Page B

Karl undoubtedly did a better job dressing after hearing this praise, he was already quite confident about his English.
    In his uncle’s dining room, which he remembered from his first evening, two tall stout gentlemen rose to greet him, one called Green, the other Pollunder, as became evident over dinner. His uncle hardly ever said anything about any of his acquaintances, leaving it up to Karl to discover through his own observations whatever might be considered important or intriguing. After the dinner—in the course of which the conversation was restricted to confidential business matters, which meant that Karl received a good lesson in how to use business terms, they had let him focus quietly on his meal, as if he were a child whose most important task was to eat his fill—Mr. Green leaned over to Karl and, making an unmistakable effort to speak the clearest possible English, asked a few general questions about Karl’s first impressions of America. Occasionally glancing at his uncle, and amid dead silence on all sides, Karl answered at length and, by way of thanking them, sought to make a pleasant impression by using turns of phrase with a certain New York flavor. Upon hearing one such expression, all three gentlemen burst out laughing, and Karl began to fear that he had made a vulgar mistake, but not at all, for as Mr. Pollunder explained to him, he had said something that was actually quite felicitous. Moreover, this Mr. Pollunder seemed to have taken a special liking to Karl, and as his uncle and Mr. Green resumed their business conversation, Mr. Pollunder made Karl pull his chair up close and asked him many different questions, first about his name, his background, and the voyage, until finally, so as to let Karl take another rest, he began to talk rapidly, amid considerable laughter and coughing, about himself and his daughter, with whom he lived on a small country estate near New York, though he could only spend his nights there, for he was a banker whose profession kept him in New York all day. And Karl was most cordially invited to visit his country estate; a freshly minted American like Karl would surely feel the need now and then to recuperate from New York. Karl immediately asked his uncle for permission to accept the invitation, and his uncle granted it with seeming pleasure, although he failed to mention a specific date or even to consider one, as Karl and Mr. Pollunder had expected.
    The following day, however, Karl was summoned to one of his uncle’s offices—in this building alone his uncle had ten different offices—where he found his uncle and Mr. Pollunder sunk in their armchairs, scarcely exchanging a word. “Mr. Pollunder,” said his uncle, whom one could scarcely discern in the twilight of the room. “As agreed yesterday, Mr. Pollunder has come to take you to his country estate.” “I didn’t know it was supposed to be today,” Karl answered, “otherwise I would be ready to leave.” “If you’re not ready to leave, it might be better if we postpone the visit for a while,” said his uncle. “Why would he need to get ready!” cried Mr. Pollunder. “A young man is always ready.” “It’s not for his sake,” said his uncle, turning to his guest, “he would have to go up to his room, though, and that would keep you waiting.” “I’ve plenty of time,” said Mr. Pollunder, “I predicted a certain delay and closed up early today.” “Well,” said his uncle, “don’t you see what trouble your visit is causing?” “I’m sorry,” said Karl, “but I shall be back in a moment,” and he began to run off. “Don’t rush,” said Mr. Pollunder, “you’re not causing me any trouble; on the contrary, I’m extremely pleased you’re coming.” “You’ll miss your riding lesson tomorrow, have you canceled it