Group None

And now we come to explain with the help of the Blessed L–rd, yet another great principle in these things, by which the fifth condition will also be clarified for you. Know that the entire heter that we wrote about in section 1 obtains only if the man to whom he would reveal the story did not yet consummate the partnership with the other, but only agreed to do so. But if it were consummated (by each according to his circumstances, as explained by the poskim, in such a manner as to forbid their retraction thereafter), [the din] depends in this: if he [the prospective revealer] knows that by revealing what he knows about the man, the other would harm him in no way, but only guard himself so that from now on no harm would befall him, and all the conditions set down in section 2 were also met, then it would be proper to do so [i.e., to reveal it]. But if he knew the nature of the man to whom he would tell it, to be such that as soon as he heard it he would believe it implicitly (either because it is his nature to believe such things immediately of his neighbor, or because there are "indications" [pointing to the truth of the revelation], or because he relies on him [the teller] implicitly), and he would immediately rule for himself and take action, i.e., withdraw from his agreement or do him some other injury, then even if he would not do anything worse than the din that beth-din would pronounce if two witnesses testified in beth-din according to his [the revealer's] words, still, it is forbidden [to reveal it]. For by his revealing it he does harm to the man [he speaks about], as would not be the case even if he testified about him in beth-din. For even if he said the very same thing in beth-din, beth-din could not impose upon him monetary payment according to his testimony, his being a single witness, [whose testimony is not accepted.] And now [if he revealed it] he would cause him real harm by doing so. And, according to this, if the tellers of the thing were two, who themselves witnessed it, it would seem to be permitted [for them to reveal it]. For their intent is only to rescue the hearer from harm and also not to cause [the other], by their revelation, more than accords with the din. (For if they see that by revealing it he [the hearer] would cause the other harm, which even beth-din would not impose upon their testimony, they have no advantage over a single witness, and it certainly would be forbidden for them to reveal it.) And it is also necessary to insure that none of the other particulars mentioned above in section 2 are lacking.