The film which was held up had been developed by order of the court. The unexposed portion had been passed through the development processes, and I experienced a thrill of joy. I saw that I was now on solid ground.
"How did you expose this film?"
"In the usual way. The church was taken first, followed by the two pictures of my family. The rest of the film has never been exposed."
"That is what you say. But the Court thinks differently. Listen, the two pictures of your family were taken first and this of the church last—possibly, indeed probably, in Germany?"
"It was not. No photographer, even the tyro, would pass half a film through his camera before making an exposure."
For ten minutes we fought tooth and nail over the way in which that film had been passed through the camera. Then, seeing that they could not shake my evidence, and doubtless impressed by my vehemence, they turned round completely to return to the attack.
"Well, granted, as you say, that the church was taken first, the second half of the film was exposed in Germany. But you, seeing the danger of your position upon arrest, contrived to ruin these last three pictures before the camera was taken away from you," snapped the Chairman.
In spite of myself I laughed.
"The second half of the film has never been exposed at all," I rejoined.
"How can you prove that?"