the Father to take all his goods, and distribute them amongst the
poor; but the Father would neither do what Deyro had proposed to him, nor
permit that he should himself dispose of any thing, before he had made
confession to him. Foreseeing, without doubt, that being so rich, he
should be obliged to make restitution of some part of that which he had
gained.

The confession of the merchant was three days in making; after which,
having sold his ship and his merchandise, he restored what he had got
unjustly, and gave great alms. And in consequence of this, under the
direction of the saint, he gave himself to the exercises of piety and
penitence, thereby to lay a solid foundation of that perfection to which
he aspired.

But these fair beginnings were not attended with any answerable fruit;
and that spirit of retirement, of mortification, and of poverty, was soon
extinguished in a man accustomed to the turmoils of the world, who had
always lived in plenty, and who passionately loved his profit. He
returned to the thoughts of his former condition, and having recovered
some jewels, and bought a small vessel in secret, he set himself to
follow his former way of living.

When he was just on the point of setting sail, a catechist, called
Antonio, came and told him, that Father Xavier desired to speak with him.
Deyro, who thought of nothing more than of making his escape, and who had
not entrusted his design to the knowledge of any person, made as if he
took him for another. But Antonio persisting in it, that it was himself
whom the Father meant, he durst not dissemble any longer, and went to
find him; resolved, however, of denying all, as thinking the Father at
most could have but a bare suspicion of his change and intended flight.
He therefore assumed an air of confidence, and presented himself boldly
before the saint; but God had given him knowledge of Deyro's intentions.
"You have sinned," said Xavier, as soon as he beheld him; "you have
sinned." These few words so deeply struck him, that he threw himself at
the feet of the Father, all trembling, and crying out, "it is true, my
Father, I have sinned:" "Penitence then, my son," replied the Father,
"penitence!" Deyro confessed himself immediately, went to sell off his
ship, and distributed all the money to the poor. He returned afterwards,
and put himself once more under the conduct of the Father, with a firm
resolution of following his counsels more sincerely, and of serving