said, “Ah, friend, why do you wish to incur such fatigue and expense by going to Rome, besides the fact that travelling by sea or by land must be very dangerous for so rich a man as you are?  Do you suppose there is no one here to baptize you?  If you have any doubts concerning the faith I have expounded, where better than here will you find theologians capable of contending with them and allaying them?  So, you see, this voyage seems to me quite unnecessary:  just imagine that the priests there are such as you see here, and all the better in that they are nearer to the supreme pastor.  If you are guided by my advice, you will postpone this toil till you have committed some grave sin and need absolution; then you and I will go together.”

But the Jew replied—­

“I believe, dear Jean, that everything is as you tell me; but you know how obstinate I am.  I will go to Rome, or I will never be a Christian.”

Then Jean, seeing his great wish, resolved that it was no use trying to thwart him, and wished him good luck; but in his heart he gave up all hope; for it was certain that his friend would come back from his pilgrimage more of a Jew than ever, if the court of Rome was still as he had seen it.

But Abraham mounted his horse, and at his best speed took the road to Rome, where on his arrival he was wonderfully well received by his coreligionists; and after staying there a good long time, he began to study the behaviour of the pope, the cardinals and other prelates, and of the whole court.  But much to his surprise he found out, partly by what passed under his eyes and partly by what he was told, that all from the pope downward to the lowest sacristan of St. Peter’s were committing the sins of luxurious living in a most disgraceful and unbridled manner, with no remorse and no shame, so that pretty women and handsome youths could obtain any favours they pleased.  In addition to this sensuality which they exhibited in public, he saw that they were gluttons and drunkards, so much so that they were more the slaves of the belly than are the greediest of animals.  When he looked a little further, he found them so avaricious and fond of money that they sold for hard cash both human bodies and divine offices, and with less conscience than a man in Paris would sell cloth or any other merchandise.  Seeing this and much more that it would not be proper to set down here, it seemed to Abraham, himself a chaste, sober, and upright man, that he had seen enough.  So he resolved to return to Paris, and carried out the resolution with his usual promptitude.  Jean de Civigny held a great fete in honour of his return, although he had lost hope of his coming back converted.  But he left time for him to settle down before he spoke of anything, thinking there would be plenty of time to hear the bad news he expected.  But, after a few days of rest, Abraham himself came to see his friend, and Jean ventured to ask what he thought