Until that moment, Brother Matthew had been undecided about exactly what he wanted to say to the Monsignor, but the face that looked coolly into his contained no trace of hostility. If anything the expression on Schrattenbach's face held more of boredom and a certain weariness than that of anger.
"I've come to see you about the incident yesterday where some boys from the Realschule stand accused of stealing a book," he said carefully.
"Yes," said Schrattenbach, his voice neutral.
"I'm not exactly sure what you have been told," Brother Matthew went on, "but I want to make it clear that the responsibility for that book is mine. I allowed Brother Gregory to take it to the school, and I take all the blame for not guarding it properly."
Monsignor Schrattenbach said nothing, so Klacel continued.
"I realize that, since the book is valuable and belongs to your family, you are taking a personal interest in this case, but I would appreciate you telling me if you intend to settle this matter yourself or if you intend to bring in the police."
At the mention of the law, the Bishop's secretary narrowed his eyes and raised his pen to his lips. A slight tapping of the pen on his teeth accompanied his considered remarks.
"As you say, Klacel, the book is valuable and does belong to me. Also, this is a serious matter of theft that involves not just me as an injured party but also the Realschule. No one has yet raised the issue of charging the boys with a criminal act, but I'm not sure that the decision would be mine if someone chose to press the issue."
In fact, the Bishop's secretary had already decided against involving the authorities for two reasons; once out of his hands he would have no more control of what happened (and he liked controlling what went on), and also, the Bishop, his master, hated getting the church involved with civilian matters. What the Bishop wanted, Schrattenbach liked to be able to provide.
Brother Matthew recognized in the prevarication the seeds of hope. "So nothing has yet been done?"
"Abbot Napp has asked that we hold an internal inquiry after he returns from his duties at the Lord's Diet, and naturally I agreed." He did not add that his agreement came very reluctantly. "If that inquiry turns up any evidence of malicious mischief, then ..." He allowed his voice to trail off in a significant manner that invited Klacel to place his own interpretation on its meaning.
Both men looked at each other like contestants before a prize fight. Each read in the other the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent, with whom they might one day have to do battle. Schrattenbach saw in Klacel a dedicated idealist who actually believed in the power of truth and the justice of righteousness. Whereas Klacel saw in Schrattenbach a worldly realist who held nothing too sacred that it could not be sacrificed if there was need, or bent if necessary. Neither man truly understood the other, but appreciated the motivations that were driving them.
"This whole thing has been blown out of all proportion," Brother Matthew said. "I know these boys and neither of them would do such a thing - perhaps there has been a mistake?" He was throwing out a fishing line, and was curious to see if the Monsignor would take the bait.
"That was also the opinion of Abbot Napp," Schrattenbach told him, giving away a clue as to how the Abbot intended to defend the boys and his teacher/monk. "It was also the opinion of Dr Auspitz, who maintains that in addition to their natural innocence, neither boy would have understood the value of a Mozart original score, so why should they steal it." Like Klacel, Schrattenbach was throwing out a line in an attempt to find out what kind of defense the monks in the Monastery were planning. Of course, Dr Auspitz had said nothing of the kind. In fact, he had been horrified by the incident and automatically had assumed the guilt of the two boys.