"Well, I shall not. I don't understand German. I don't know what it's about!"
"It's your defence!"
"So it may be, but I have only your word for that. I decline to sign anything I do not understand. It may be my death warrant!"
"If you don't sign I can tell you that we have means of making you do so," he continued somewhat menacingly.
"I don't care. You can do as you like, but I am not going to sign those papers."
My determination provoked another animated discussion. Finally another pile was pushed towards me, I could not curb a start. It was my defence written throughout in English, and had undoubtedly been written simultaneously with the German version. I eyed the Clerk of the Court narrowly and he returned the gaze just as keenly.
I ran through the depositions. They were perfect. Picking up the pen I signed my name without hesitation. The signature was inspected, and then the original German papers were once more presented with the invitation to sign. Again, I refused.
"But," expostulated the Chairman, "this is a literal German translation from the English which you have signed!"
"So it may be, but the fact remains that I don't understand German," I retorted.
Another storm burst, but the Tribunal saw that it was impossible to shake my resolution. There was another brief discussion. Then the Chairman turned to one of his colleagues, and in a despairing voice asked, "Can you suggest a way out of the difficulty?"