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At that, and without delay, the man actually did take long

strides into the front hallway; his two friends had stopped

rubbing their hands some time before and had been listening to

what was being said. Now they jumped off after their friend as if

taken with a sudden fear that Mr. Samsa might go into the hallway

in front of them and break the connection with their leader. Once

there, all three took their hats from the stand, took their

sticks from the holder, bowed without a word and left the

premises. Mr. Samsa and the two women followed them out onto the

landing; but they had had no reason to mistrust the men's

intentions and as they leaned over the landing they saw how the

three gentlemen made slow but steady progress down the many

steps.