"Ahh, but there is," Mendel said firmly, his brain now fully functional again, "you forget the endowment of Countess Walpurga." He paused for a moment to see if his statement had had any effect. Only Brother Timothy made the connection at once, and he remained silent.
"It is a requirement of the gift from the old Countess that the Realschule provide equal and equivalent education for all the boys," Mendel reminded them. Once, many years ago, the Countess of Truchess-Zeil had been a fervent patron of all education on her estates and throughout the region. On her death a codicil in her will left considerable sums of money to any school who would agree to educate boys in all aspects of economic, cultural and social development. Abbot Napp had been highly influential in getting the executors of the Truchess-Zeil estate to give money to the new Realschule, but there had been a number of provisions and restrictions, including the one mentioned by Brother Gregory. Perhaps, thought Druer, the Board, under the magical influence of Brother Timothy, sitting in that night for the missing Abbot, had not taken everything into account.
"There is no problem with the Countess," Brother Timothy hurried to assure the men in the room, but the look on Mendel's face said otherwise.
"I don't know," Druer said hesitantly, "perhaps Mendel has a point." He did not want to annoy Abbot Napp, or any of the lesser nobility on which his trade depended.
"It is highly debatable," Brother Timothy said from between clenched teeth, "but anyway, the decision of the Board must be followed for the moment. Brother Gregory should be asked to remove the Tomin boys from his class in one hour."
"Maybe we should wait until after the next Board meeting," Auspitz said, searching for a face saving compromise. He had known that Brother Gregory would fiercely defend his 'sparrows' from the moment he had seen the Board's letter.
"Not at all," said Brother Timothy, seeing his work beginning to fray in the doubt of these two men. "The Board had good reasons for its decision and I am sure they will stand behind it at the next meeting. In the mean time, we must follow their instructions." He turned to look directly at Auspitz, "And I am sure you would not want the Board to think that you were tardy in carrying out their policy? Brother Gregory must remember what happened to Father Schreiber?" There was no need to remind the Headmaster, or Brother Gregory, out loud about what had happened to Fr. Schreiber, an old teacher of Mendel's, who had run afoul of the authorities in matters of policy.
Surprisingly Mendel, who was normally quite shy and avoided confrontation, had the last word. "This is monstrous, and I will see to it that Baron Truchess-Zeil hears about it at once. But for now I accept the policy and I will speak to my boys."
He departed without the normal courtesies.