“And none shall keep count of the money which Judas receives. He is our brother and all the money is his as well as ours, and if he needs much let him take much, telling no one nor taking counsel with any. Judas is our brother and you have deeply offended against him,” thus sayeth our Teacher. “Shame on us, brethren!”
In the doorway stood Judas, pale and with a sickly smile. John with a quick movement approached him and kissed him thrice on the cheek. And after him, exchanging glances and awkwardly, came the others, James, Philip, and the rest. After each kiss Judas wiped his mouth, though he received the kiss with a resounding smack as if the sound afforded him much pleasure. The last to kiss him was Peter.
“We are all fools, Judas. We are all blind. One alone is seeing, One alone is wise. May I kiss thee?”
“Why not? Kiss,” assented Judas.
Peter cordially kissed him and whispered into his ear:
“And I almost choked thee. The others were gentler, but I seized thee by the throat. Did it pain thee?”
“A little.”
“I shall go to Him and tell Him. I was even angry with Him,” gloomily remarked Peter striving to open the door without noise.
“And how about thee, Thomas?” sternly inquired John who was watching the actions of the disciples.
“I don’t know yet. I must think.”