foot, but the wind flies farther and farther, my good
Thomas."

Judas obligingly pointed over the wall in illustration of his meaning,
and laughed again.

"I am glad that you are merry," said Thomas, "but it is a great pity
that there is so much malice in your merriment."

"Why should not a man be cheerful, who has been kissed so much, and
who is so useful? If I had not stolen the three denarii would John have
known the meaning of delight? Is it not pleasant to be a hook, on which
John may hang his damp virtue out to dry, and Thomas his moth-eaten
mind?"

"I think that I had better be going."

"But I am only joking, my good Thomas. I merely wanted to know whether
you really wished to kiss the old obnoxious Judas--the thief who stole
the three denarii and gave them to a harlot."

"To a harlot!" exclaimed Thomas in surprise. "And did you tell the
Master of it?"

"Again you doubt, Thomas. Yes, to a harlot. But if you only knew,
Thomas, what an unfortunate woman she was. For two days she had had
nothing to eat."

"Are you sure of that?" said Thomas in confusion.

"Yes! Of course I am. I myself spent two days with her, and saw that she
ate and drank nothing except red wine. She tottered from exhaustion, and
I was always falling down with her."

Thereupon Thomas got up quickly, and, when he had gone a few steps away,
he flung out at Judas:

"You seem to be possessed of Satan, Judas."

And as he went away, he heard in the approaching twilight how dolefully
the heavy money-box rattled in Judas' hands. And Judas seemed to laugh.

But the very next day Thomas was obliged to acknowledge that he had
misjudged Judas, so simple, so gentle, and at the same time so serious
was Iscariot. He neither grimaced nor made ill-natured jokes; he was
neither obsequious nor scurrilous, but quietly and unobtrusively went
about his work of catering. He was as active as formerly, as though he
did not have two feet like other people, but a whole dozen of them,
and ran noiselessly without that squeaking, sobbing, and laughter of a
hyena, with which he formerly accompanied his actions. And when Jesus
began to speak, he would seat himself quickly in a corner, fold his
hands and feet, and look so kindly with his great eyes, that many
observed it. He ceased speaking evil of people, but rather remained
silent, so that even the severe Matthew deemed it possible to praise
him, saying in the words of Solomon:

"'He that is devoid of wisdom