Having no time to explain the plan to Brother Joseph, all Mendel could do was ask his friend to rush into Brno as soon as breakfast was over, go to the recently opened electric telegraph office and use this new and amazing means of rapid communication to send a message to Vienna. At that time four systems were in competition, but everyone in Brno was betting the system devised by the Englishman Charles Wheatstone would beat the one being promoted by the American Samuel Morse.

During breakfast Brother Gregory ate little, he was sure his stomach was going to revolt and he was going to be sick. But as the meal ended, he tried to take control of himself. His first big moment in the plan had arrived. Still shaking, he got up and walked over to Abbot Napp. As he knew, he was about to take on the powers of the Church, State and Army, and the daunting prospect nearly made him blind with a raging headache.

"I have some good news," he said through his pain. Sitting at the Abbot's table were the Prior and Brother Timothy, so he addressed them all. As active members in the Klacel matter he didn't see why the news should be a secret. "I spoke with Brother Matthew late last night, and I think his problems may be over. One of the Hussite cells led by the Czech called Devet claims to have a vital piece of evidence that will clear Brother Matthew of all involvement in the attack on the Oberstleutnant. They intend to smuggle this evidence into Brno today or tomorrow morning and present it to the tribunal."

The anxiety brought on by lying to his Abbot made Brother Gregory very pale and his face broke out in sweat, so Abbot Napp's first reaction was one of concern. "Are you feeling well, Brother?" he asked, getting up from the table and putting an arm around the shaking monk.

"I have not slept well lately," Mendel said, honestly. He did not want to sit down, but the Abbot firmly pushed him into a chair.

"What is this new evidence?" Brother Timothy wanted to know. He had put down his knife and fork and was watching Mendel intently. He was well aware that Brother Gregory and Klacel were close friends.

"Yes," the Abbot insisted, "what has happened? What is this evidence and how will it clear Brother Matthew of all these charges?"

Mopping his face, Brother Gregory replied to the best of his ability. "I don't know. Brother Matthew either didn't know or didn't tell me. All he said was that a vital and important piece of physical evidence was going to be smuggled into Brno today. The Czechs involved were going to disguise themselves as soldiers and take it into town before the authorities could stop them. Tomorrow they will send it to the tribunal and, they say, it will clear Brother Matthew."

By now Brother Gregory was sweating and shaking so much no one doubted him when he made his excuses and said he was returning to his bed. Abbot Napp offered to send a message to the Realschule informing them that their favorite teacher would be absent for a couple of days, and the group broke up.

As Brother Matthew had predicted, the information just given by Brother Gregory to his Abbot also reached the ears of Untercommandant Darmstaedter less than an hour later. He acted at once. Within the next hour the entire force of Staatpolizei were put on alert, road blocks were set up at all the main entrances to Brno, and everyone entering or leaving the town was thoroughly searched; especially anyone wearing a uniform.

Caught by surprise, several members of Devet's cell of conspirators were nearly trapped carrying a stack of anti-German leaflets into town, but they saw the road blocks in time, and went different ways. A few soldiers were stopped by the police and a fight almost got out of hand. Word of the searches, and the problems they were causing, reached the monastery by mid-morning, and Oberstleutnant Reishach stormed off in a fury to try and find out what was happening, and why.

As Klacel had intended, word also reached another certain set of ears. Their owner cursed, bit his lip, thought for a moment, and then changed his plans accordingly. Although he did not know it, he had done exactly what Brother Matthew had said he would and was thus one step closer to discovery. Phase one of their scheme was working as designed, but there was a long way yet to go.