But the angel who writes down the faults of men in a record of brass, speaking suddenly, said: “Smetse cannot enter Paradise, for Smetse, delivered from the devil, kept devil’s money.”
“Ah,” said My Lord Jesus, “that is a great sin; but has he not repented of it?”
“Yes,” said the good wife, “he has repented, and, moreover, he has been all his life good, charitable, and compassionate.”
“Go and find him,” said My Lord Jesus, “I will question him myself.”
Two or three halberdier angels ran to obey him, and brought Smetse before the Son of God, who spoke in this wise:
“Smetse, is it true that thou didst keep devil’s money?”
“Yes, My Lord,” answered the smith, whose knees were knocking together with fear.
“Smetse, this is not good, for a man should rather suffer every ill, pain, and anguish, than keep the money of one who is wicked, ugly, unjust, and a liar, as is the devil. But hast thou no meritorious deed to tell me, to mitigate this great sin?”
“My Lord,” answered Smetse, “I fought a long while beside the men of Zeeland for freedom of conscience, and, doing this, suffered with them hunger and thirst.”
“This is good, Smetse, but didst thou persist in this fair conduct?”