These letters provoked a considerable amount of whispering, head-shaking, wise smiles, and significant noddings.  No one could read a word of English—­but that was immaterial.  In the wisdom of their conceit these inquisitors considered the communications to be fully incriminating, and the frequent recurrence of the word “Russia” in the letters convinced them that my guilt was now fully and truly established beyond a shadow of a doubt.  The various articles were carefully wrapped up and tied with blue ribbon.  Knowing the significance of red-tape at home, I concluded that this was the Prussian analogue of our official preference.  Afterwards, however, I was told that “blue” ribbon was employed for a specific purpose—­the sealing of articles and goods belonging to one arrested on the charge of espionage.  How far this is true I do not know, but I did observe that in every instance blue ribbon was employed to secure the parcels belonging to spies.

My two cameras were regarded with reverent awe.  As they were being examined I urged them to be careful.  I suggested that they should allow me to develop the films, but this proposal was regarded with consternation and emphatic negative head-shakings.  The authorities would see to that.

Suddenly there was intense excitement.  One of the searchers had drawn a watch-like contrivance from my waistcoat pocket.  It was not a watch, because it had no dial or works, but something which was quite foreign to them.  First they dropped it as if fearing it might explode.  Then finding that the fall brought about no ill-effects they approached it warily, picked it up gingerly, and held it to their ears.  It did not tick.  Then they shook it, banged it on the desk, studied it closely with a wise, old-owlish look, and at last, shaking their heads quizzically, consigned it to wrapping paper and sealed it with the blue ribbon.

Despite my serious predicament I could not refrain from indulging in an outburst of laughter which only served to annoy them still further.  The mystery was not a new type of infernal machine as they imagined but merely a home-made actinometer!  It was contrived from an old cheap watch-case, while the strange contents were merely strips of paper which had been soaked in a solution of potassium bichromate!

These preliminaries completed, my two companions and I were paraded before another pompous official who, like the majority of his ilk, was smothered with decorations.  Drawing himself to his full height he fired a tirade at us for several minutes without taking the slightest pause for breath.  What it was all about I do not know.  He spoke so rapidly, and so in the style of a gramophone, that I came to the conclusion he was in the habit of holding forth in this strain at intervals of every few minutes.  But his manner was so menacing as to lead me to apprehend that no feelings of affection or hospitality were to be extended towards us.