Can You Keep a Secret?

The Duke of Wellington is best remembered as the general who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815. During his earlier service in India, Wellington was in charge of negotiations after the battle of Assaye. The emissary of an Indian ruler, anxious to know what territories would be ceded to his master, tried in various ways to get the information. Finally, he offered Wellington a large sum of money.

“Can you keep a secret?” asked Wellington.

“Yes, indeed,” the man said eagerly.

“So can I,” replied Wellington.

Today in the Word, July, 1990, p. 35