“Now, if you will permit me,” said K., “I will ask you a rather rude question.” The landlady remained silent. “So I may not ask,” said K., “that’s enough for me, too.” “Oh, of course,” said the landlady, “that’s enough for you, that especially. You misinterpret everything, even the silence. You simply cannot help it. I do give you permission to ask.” “If I’m misinterpreting everything,” said K., “then perhaps I’m also misinterpreting my own question, perhaps it isn’t all that rude. I simply wanted to know how you met your husband and how this inn came into your hands.”