"Ahh," sighed the Prior, "Brother Gregory is a fine scientist, one of the best we have, but he knows little of politics. We are a small institution, with limited funds for our work, how can we compete with the marvelous research taking place in your country?" It was not a rhetorical question. "If you were to tell your countrymen of Brother Gregory's discoveries, armed with the knowledge of what to expect, they would be able to duplicate his experiments and publish their results in much less time than it took our Mendel." He sighed again. "I do not want to be rude, but English publications receive a much wider range of support and belief than do the modest publications here in Brno. No one would ever hear of our work if someone of the stature of Herr Darwin wrote about them first."
Brown and Giddings were vigorous in their response.
"Never!" Giddings almost shouted, "Charles Darwin is a truly honorable man, he almost didn't publish his own analysis of evolution when he heard that Wallace had come to the same conclusions." This esoteric knowledge of Darwin's morals did not deflect Brother Timothy however.
"Perhaps I could suggest a compromise," he said smoothly. "Brother Gregory is already reading his results to the Brno Natural History Society, and will give a second talk next month. After that he will, no doubt, wish to write up and publish his findings." Not if I can prevent it! he thought to himself, but went on, "I will personally make sure that a copy of that paper is sent directly to you. You will then be free to make this knowledge as widely known as you wish, and Brother Gregory's prior claim to being the discoverer will be safeguarded. Surely that arrangement benefits us all?"
Instinctively Mr Michael Brown distrusted Brother Timothy, but the compromise he had suggested was eminently reasonable.
"You are certain that Brother Gregory will be publishing these results soon?" he asked, "They are of such significance that any delay must be avoided." Brother Timothy did not like that, but hid his annoyance well.
"Oh yes," he assured them, "as the Prior says, we are a small Monastery but the Abbot strongly encourages all of us in our scientific endeavors. I am sure he will want Brother Gregory to receive full credit for this ground breaking work as soon as possible. You will not have to wait long. The end of the year perhaps."
"In that case," Brown admitted cautiously, "I think we can agree not to release the news of Brother Gregory's work until we receive a copy of his paper."
Much relieved to hear this, Brother Timothy suggested that they go and collect Herr Grunewald. The visitors thanked Prior Sembera and followed him to the main entrance. The Prior watched them depart and silently congratulated himself on once again protecting his Monastery from the wrath of the Bishop, while in the corridor, Brother Timothy was congratulating himself on preventing the news of Mendel's work from reaching the one man in England who would have both understood its significance and been in a position to give it wide publicity. Naturally Brother Gregory would have to be prevented from every publishing his results, or, if he did, then Brother Timothy would make sure the news never reached Herr Brown or Herr Giddings.
It never did.