MR CORNELIUS
No, that is clearly an indication of the joke aspect of it.  These people were joking about the situation, although he mentioned it.  He said to me that he made a full disclosure of facts, that is what he remember, that is what was said.  He never paid any attention to the possibility of receiving land or property and it was said after the failure, so it was ludicrous, it was general talk between the people afterwards, and they were joking about it.