And Thomas thought long, almost the whole day.
The disciples had gone about their business, and somewhere behind the wall Peter shouted loudly and merrily, but Thomas was still thinking. Pie would have finished sooner, but Judas, whose mocking glance persistently pursued his movement, disturbed him. Now and then the Iscariot inquired with a mock curiosity:
“Well, how is it Thomas? How art thou progressing?”
Then Judas brought his treasure chest and loudly jingling his coins he commenced to count them, pretending to ignore the presence of Thomas.
“Twenty one, twenty two, twenty three. Look, Thomas, another false coin. What great rogues people are, they even offer false money unto God. Twenty four. And then they will say Judas had stolen it. Twenty five. Twenty six....”
Thomas resolutely advanced to him, (it was already towards evening) and said:
“He was right, Judas. Let me kiss thee.”
“Indeed? Twenty nine. Thirty. But it is all in vain. I shall steal again. Thirty one....”
“How canst thou steal if there is no more thine or anybody else’s? Thou wilt take what thou needest, brother.”
“And didst thou require all this time merely to repeat His words? Thou doest not value time, Thomas?”