Then our Lord took the little bird which He had just found on the ice, and, bending backwards, threw it over the wall, so that it fell down into Paradise. And immediately thereafter Saint Peter heard a loud, joyous trill, and recognized a bullfinch’s song, and was greatly astonished. He turned toward our Lord and said: “Let us return to the earth and suffer all that must be suffered, for now I see that you speak the truth, and that there is a place where Life overcomes death.” And they descended from the mountain and began their wanderings again. And it was years before Saint Peter saw any more than this one glimpse of Paradise; but he had always longed for the land beyond the wall. And now at last he was there, and did not have to strive and yearn any more. Now he could drink bliss in full measure all day long from never-dying streams. But Saint Peter had not been in Paradise a fortnight before it happened that an angel came to our Lord where He sat upon His throne, bowed seven times before Him, and told Him that a great sorrow must have come upon Saint Peter. He would neither eat nor drink, and his eyelids were red, as though he had not slept for several nights. As soon as our Lord heard this, He rose and went to seek Saint Peter. He found him far away, on one of the outskirts of Paradise, where he lay upon the ground, as if he were too exhausted to stand, and he had rent his garments and strewn his hair with ashes. When our Lord saw him so distressed, He sat down on the ground beside him, and talked to him, just as He would have done had they still been wandering around in this world of trouble. “What is it that makes you so sad, Saint Peter?” said our Lord. But grief had overpowered Saint Peter, so that he could not answer. “What is it that makes you so sad?” asked our Lord once again. When our Lord repeated the question, Saint Peter took the gold crown from his head and threw it at our Lord’s feet, as much as to say he wanted no further share in His honor and glory. But our Lord understood, of course, that Saint Peter was so disconsolate that he knew not what he did. He showed no anger at him. “You must tell me what troubles you,” said He, just as gently as before, and with an even greater love in His voice. But now Saint Peter jumped up; and then our Lord knew that he was not only disconsolate, but downright angry. He came toward our Lord with clenched fists and snapping eyes. “Now I want a dismissal from your service!” said Saint Peter. “I can not remain another day in Paradise.” Our Lord tried to calm him, just as He had been obliged to do many times before, when Saint Peter had flared up. “Oh, certainly you can go,” said He, “but you must first tell me what it is that displeases you.” “I can tell you that I awaited a better reward than this when we two endured all sorts of misery down on earth,” said Saint Peter. Our Lord saw that Saint Peter’s soul was filled with bitterness, and He felt no anger at him.