The Father made Deyro understand, how far he was yet from the kingdom of heaven; that, to arrive at perfection, he must perform what our Saviour counselled the young man, who seemed willing to follow him, that is to say, he must practise these words in the literal sense, “sell all thou hast, and give it to the poor.”  Deyro, thus undeceived, immediately desired the Father to take all his goods, and distribute them amongst the poor; but the Father would neither do what Deyro had proposed to him, nor permit that he should himself dispose of any thing, before he had made confession to him.  Foreseeing, without doubt, that being so rich, he should be obliged to make restitution of some part of that which he had gained.

The confession of the merchant was three days in making; after which, having sold his ship and his merchandise, he restored what he had got unjustly, and gave great alms.  And in consequence of this, under the direction of the saint, he gave himself to the exercises of piety and penitence, thereby to lay a solid foundation of that perfection to which he aspired.

But these fair beginnings were not attended with any answerable fruit; and that spirit of retirement, of mortification, and of poverty, was soon extinguished in a man accustomed to the turmoils of the world, who had always lived in plenty, and who passionately loved his profit.  He returned to the thoughts of his former condition, and having recovered some jewels, and bought a small vessel in secret, he set himself to follow his former way of living.

When he was just on the point of setting sail, a catechist, called Antonio, came and told him, that Father Xavier desired to speak with him.  Deyro, who thought of nothing more than of making his escape, and who had not entrusted his design to the knowledge of any person, made as if he took him for another.  But Antonio persisting in it, that it was himself whom the Father meant, he durst not dissemble any longer, and went to find him; resolved, however, of denying all, as thinking the Father at most could have but a bare suspicion of his change and intended flight.  He therefore assumed an air of confidence, and presented himself boldly before the saint; but God had given him knowledge of Deyro’s intentions.  “You have sinned,” said Xavier, as soon as he beheld him; “you have sinned.”  These few words so deeply struck him, that he threw himself at the feet of the Father, all trembling, and crying out, “it is true, my Father, I have sinned:”  “Penitence then, my son,” replied the Father, “penitence!” Deyro confessed himself immediately, went to sell off his ship, and distributed all the money to the poor.  He returned afterwards, and put himself once more under the conduct of the Father, with a firm resolution of following his counsels more sincerely, and of serving God more faithfully.

How unfeigned soever the repentance of Deyro seemed, Xavier had no confidence in it; and these new fervours were suspected by him.  He would not receive him into the company of Jesus, which requires solid spirits, and such as are firm to their vocation.