Shall this be tolerated?
Just think of it! And what would become of the walls of our prison if every one who wished it were to leave upon them his profane marks ?" "To the devil with it!" This is exactly how K.expressed himself.

He said it loudly, even with an air of calmness.
"What do you mean to say by this, my youthful friend ?" "I wish to say that you may perish here, my old friend, but I shall leave this place." "You can't escape from our prison," I retorted, sternly.
"Have you tried ?" "Yes, I have tried." He looked at me incredulously and smiled.

He smiled! "You are a coward, old man.

You are simply a miserable coward." I--a coward! Oh, if that self-satisfied puppy knew what a tempest of rage he had aroused in my soul he would have squealed for fright and would have hidden himself on the bed.

I--a coward! The world has crumbled upon my head, but has not crushed me, and out of its terrible fragments I have created a new world, according to my own design and plan; all the evil forces of life--solitude, imprisonment, treachery, and falsehood--all have taken up arms against me, but I have subjected them all to my will.