nto wretched rags. But
then Thomas never did know anything, though he asked questions about
everything, and looked so straight with his bright, transparent eyes,
through which, as through a pane of Phoenician glass, was visible a
wall, with a dismal ass tied to it.

Some time later another occurrence took place, in which Judas again
proved to be in the right.

At a certain village in Judaea, of which Judas had so bad an opinion,
that he had advised them to avoid it, the people received Christ with
hostility, and after His sermon and exposition of hypocrites they burst
into fury, and threatened to stone Jesus and His disciples. Enemies He
had many, and most likely they would have carried out their sinister
intention, but for Judas Iscariot. Seized with a mad fear for Jesus, as
though he already saw the drops of ruby blood upon His white garment,
Judas threw himself in blind fury upon the crowd, scolding, screeching,
beseeching, and lying, and thus gave time and opportunity to Jesus and
His disciples to escape.

Amazingly active, as though running upon a dozen feet, laughable and
terrible in his fury and entreaties, he threw himself madly in front of
the crowd and charmed it with a certain strange power. He shouted
that the Nazarene was not possessed of a devil, that He was simply an
impostor, a thief who loved money as did all His disciples, and even
Judas himself: and he rattled the money-box, grimaced, and beseeched,
throwing himself on the ground. And by degrees the anger of the crowd
changed into laughter and disgust, and they let fall the stones which
they had picked up to throw at them.

"They are not fit to die by the hands of an honest person," said they,
while others thoughtfully followed the rapidly disappearing Judas with
their eyes.

Again Judas expected to receive congratulations, praise, and thanks, and
made a show of his torn garments, and pretended that he had been beaten;
but this time, too, he was greatly mistaken. The angry Jesus strode on
in silence, and even Peter and John did not venture to approach Him: and
all whose eyes fell on Judas in his torn garments, his face glowing with
happiness, but still somewhat frightened, repelled him with curt, angry
exclamations.

It was just as though he had not saved them all, just as though he had
not saved their Teacher, whom they loved so dearly.

"Do you want to see some fools?" said he to Thomas, who was thoughtfully
walking in the rear. "Look! Ther