to
tell it all to his brother, but Ioann had gone off out of
earshot, and was now visible on the opposite mountain, no
bigger than a beetle.

And Afanasy took of his garment, raked into it as much gold as
he was able to carry, flung it on his shoulders and carried it
to the city. He came to the inn, gave the gold over to the
innkeeper, and went back after the remainder. And when he had
brought all the gold he went to the merchants, bought land in
the town, bought stone and timber, hired workmen, and began to
build three houses. And Afanasy dwelt three months in the town
and built three houses in the town, one house, an asylum for
widows and orphans, another house, a hospital for the sick and
the needy, a third house for pilgrims and paupers. And Afanasy
sought out three pious old men, and he placed one over the
asylum, another over the hospital, and the third over the
hostelry for pilgrims. And Afanasy had three thousand gold
pieces left. And he gave a thousand to each old man to
distribute to the poor. And people began to fill all three
houses, and men began to laud Afanasy for what he had done.
And Afanasy rejoiced thereat so that he did not wish to leave
the city. But Afanasy loved his brother, and bidding the people
farewell, and keeping not a single gold piece for himself, he
went back to his abode in the same old garment in which he had
quitted it.

Afanasy came to his mountain and said to himself, "My brother
judged wrongly when he sprang away from the gold and fled from
it. Have not I done better?"

And no sooner had Afanasy thought this, than suddenly he
beheld, standing in his path and gazing sternly at him, that
angel who had been wont to bless them. And Afanasy was
stupefied with amazement and could utter only, "Why is this,
Lord?" And the angel opened his mouth and said, "Get thee
hence! Thou art not worthy to dwell with thy brother. Thy
brother's one leap is more precious than all the deeds which
thou hast done with thy gold."

And Afanasy began to tell of how many paupers and wanderers he
had fed, how many orphans he had cared for, and the angel said
to him, "That devil who placed the gold there to seduce thee
hath also taught thee these words."

And then did Afanasy's conscience convict him, and he