_ 75 _ I shall spend almost three months on this teaching, and already go to the money-changers at the end of the loan period. This teaching and some sermons on Sundays and holy days have borne much fruit, more than I realised; for it was the custom of the dealers, the men of trade, when they rose, to go to the bazaar where all the heathen are, before contemplating God, and all their concern was how to deceive their neighbour. Now all their concern in these matters is how not to deceive him, and they know as much about their consciences as their own confessors, praise the Lord, who loosed the mouths of the dumb. So great was the change that a very rich merchant became ill, and I received a request to hear his confession, which others also had done, and this was because I was so very busy that I could only go to those who were in greatest need. When I entered his house, he threw himself at my feet, begging to confess; and before we entered upon the confession, he made this request: Father, I am the greatest sinner in the world, and I wish to be saved. I have never before confessed fully; I have nearly three thousand pardões which I place here at your feet; I have also such and such property and ships; that is the kind of man I am. I also yield to you my body and temporal life, cut where you will, I put everything into your hands, I want
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