Чорний тюльпан
Cornelius van Baerle’s Will
Corneliusansweredthatitwasindeedso;that,however,heneverputhishandintothepressbuttoascertainwhetherhisbulbsweredry,andthatheneverlookedintoitbuttoseeiftheywerebeginningtosprout.
Tothisagainitwasobjected,thathispretendedindifferencerespectingthisdepositwasnottobereasonablyentertained,ashecouldnothavereceivedsuchpapersfromthehandofhisgodfatherwithoutbeingmadeacquaintedwiththeirimportantcharacter.
HerepliedthathisgodfatherCorneliuslovedhimtoowell,and,aboveall,thathewastooconsiderateamantohavecommunicatedtohimanythingofthecontentsoftheparcel,wellknowingthatsuchaconfidencewouldonlyhavecausedanxietytohimwhoreceivedit.
Tothisitwasobjectedthat,ifDeWitthadwishedtoactinsuchaway,hewouldhaveaddedtotheparcel,incaseofaccidents,acertificatesettingforththathisgodsonwasanentirestrangertothenatureofthiscorrespondence,oratleasthewouldduringhistrialhavewrittenalettertohim,whichmightbeproducedashisjustification.
Corneliusrepliedthatundoubtedlyhisgodfathercouldnothavethoughtthattherewasanyriskforthesafetyofhisdeposit,hiddenasitwasinapresswhichwaslookeduponassacredasthetabernaclebythewholehouseholdofVanBaerle;andthatconsequentlyhehadconsideredthecertificateasuseless.
