"It was a meal that would have delighted a gourmand and horrified a gourmet," Brother Gregory said with a chuckle as the three friends splashed and plodded their way along Solnicni Street in the heart of Brno. By the second freak of that already strange winter, the bubble in the thermometer had risen to almost spring-like values and the thick layer of recently fallen snow was now rapidly turning to dirty mush.

Since his return from Otto Grunewald's weaving mill, following his evening dinner with the manager of the mill, Brother Gregory had talked of little else. A combination of the snow storm and a second visit to the dye-works had kept the scientist-monk away from the monastery for an extra day during which time Brother Matthew had persuaded Brother Joseph to say nothing about their unusual ride home, the woman calling herself Katerina Novotna or anything about the startling revelations that had been made during that carriage ride.

Although he was bursting to tell Brother Gregory the news, Brother Joseph had respected his friend's wishes and was keeping quiet, at least for now.

On his return, Brother Gregory had joined his two friends in the secret part of the monastery library, hidden behind the main library, and they had pulled together all the books they possessed, or could find, on the topic of the chemical arts, in particular the new science of chemical synthesis and the atoms of carbon. It was a very thin pile, and contained almost nothing that would help them get the dye alizarin into solution.

"Our problem is," Brother Matthew said after looking at their pathetic collection, "none of us know very much about this alchemy. We need to consult an expert".

"Yes," Mendel said slowly, rubbing his chin which had not been shaved that morning, "I will write to the University of Vienna and my old chemistry Professor, Herr Doktor Redtenbacher. He studied chemistry at Glessen with Professor Liebig, and it was there that they first published the atomic weight of the carbon atom. He should be able to help us. I remember that he gave very clear lectures on pharmaceutical chemistry and methods of chemical analysis".

He picked up a book from the desk. "This was my text book," and he showed them a copy of Stumpf's work on advances in chemistry and its applications to technology and pharmacy. "I signed it - here". He showed them a pencilled signature.

"That is all very well," Brother Matthew said, "but I fear we do not have that much time. Herr Waldschmidt was very insistent that this problem be solved in days or weeks, not months or years - and you know how slow University Professors work!"

"But Herr Doktor Liebig's work on chemical radicals and how larger chemical structures can be built up from smaller ones could be essential to our understanding of a structure such as alizarin and its properties".

"Yes," Brother Matthew agreed, "but not if we have to wait six months for an answer! We need a local expert, not someone in Vienna".

"There is, of course, a great deal of talent to be found in the Brno Society for the Study of Natural Science," Brother Joseph said, reflectively".

"Of course," Brother Matthew shouted, "the Society of which you are such a valuable member. Who is the chemistry expert?"

Mendel thought for a moment. "Herr Czermak is the only one who could be called an expert in chemistry, but he is away in Italy for the winter, and could not easily be reached. But the Vice-President of our Society, Herr Karl Theimer was at the University of Vienna with me, and he became very interested in chemistry while we were there. Perhaps he would know something, or someone?"

"Karl Theimer, the pharmacist in Brno?" Brother Matthew asked. "I seem to remember his area of expertise is floristics".

"Well, yes, it is. He also worked on plant hybrids, and gave a talk on it in '62, if you remember".

"So how could he help?"

"He knows more chemistry than we do!"

So the three friends set off in the melting snow to consult the Vice President, and as they walked Mendel told them of his dinner with Herr Lichtermann, the textile mill manager, and the engineer Waldschmidt.

He was just finishing his story when they arrived at Solnicni Street and the pharmacy run by Karl Theimer. Inside, the pot-bellied stove was putting out enough heat to keep the assistants from freezing and the small group of customers were not in much of a hurry to get their orders, medicines, potions or supplies and return to the slushy streets near St. Thomas' church.

As Theimer was busy rolling a set of pills for a large, red-faced man, the three friends waited quietly by the stove. This action did not make them popular with the youngest assistant whose job it was to keep the stove fully fuelled and burning brightly. He kept nudging Klacel with his logs until the monk reluctantly moved out of his way.

Eventually the final customer wrapped himself up in his coat, pulled his hat down over his ears and with a nod to the pharmacist let himself out onto the melting streets once more. "Mendel, my old friend, you have not been to see me in quite a while. Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of Abbot Napp. He was a good man, a very good man and we will all miss him a great deal. Brno will not be the same without him".

Accepting the regret of this distinguished Brno citizen, Mendel shook his hand and then waited while Theimer also shook hands and had a few words with Brother Matthew and Brother Joseph. Unlike a lot of the good burghers in this part of town, Karl Theimer was neutral on the issue of Klacel and his politics, and would accept his greetings and reply with civility. "So, what brings you here?" he asked at last.

"We need your help, or your advice, or both," Brother Gregory said. "It is a scientific problem that we are working on that requires more knowledge of chemistry than we have at our disposal. I remember a lot of the basics from our time together at the University of Vienna, but the field has moved on since the 50's and now a different kind of chemistry, that of the carbon atom, is all the rage. Do you think you could help?"

"It is always possible, but not likely. My chemical knowledge stopped at about the same time yours did. But what is the problem?"

The three friends took turns at explaining about coal tar, distillation, dyes and solubility, but it was clear that Theimer would not be able to solve the problem for them. He kept shaking his head, and eventually stopped the discourse. "No, that is not in my area of expertise at all. Those British are damm clever scientists and we in Austria are a long way behind them".

"So what do you suggest, other than contacting Herr Professor Doktor Leibig?" Mendel was forced to ask. He had not wanted to be involved in this shady problem at all, and now it was turning out to be more difficult than anyone had thought.

"The telegraph would probably be the fastest way," Theimer admitted, "but it is unlikely that you could interest the good Doktor in a commercial problem of this limited kind. He is much more interested in larger issues in chemistry, and may not even reply at all".

Depression was beginning to settle uncomfortably on the shoulders of the three monks, as the pharmacist was called away to deal with another customer who was having problem with a mild case of dropsy. "Take this juice of the Iris root bruised with wine," he was told. "It is a strong purge of great efficiency which the best physics have been recommending for centuries. If your daughter has any freckles, you can use what is left to remove them also".

"I wish our problem was as easily solved," grunted Brother Matthew on hearing the remedy. But when he returned to them, Karl Theimer was smiling, or at least was looking pleased with himself.

"How desperate are you for help?" he asked.

"At this point we will take any help we can get," Klacel told him, moving back in the direction of the stove, now that the assistant was out of the way.

"Then perhaps you would consider taking advice from G. Dabrowska, who is staying with me at the moment, and would have some time to help you if you like?". A twinkle in Theimer's eye was noticed by Brother Joseph, but before he had a chance to ask his own question, Klacel spoke up for them all.

"Any advice at this moment would be most welcome," he said, "but would your guest welcome helping us? We cannot pay - much." The subject of monetary reward had not been discussed with Otto Grunewald, who tended to operate as if Mendel's help and assistance would, naturally, be given free of charge. Klacel, however, sensed that a businessman such as Grunewald would hardly object to paying for the advice of an expert.

"Hummm," Theimer mused, "I think my guest would be willing to take on your problem for its intellectual challenge alone, but, if you like I could go and ask?"

"Please do, and, if it is not inconvenient perhaps we could be introduced?" Mendel said, anxious to get the problem moving along and out of his hands.

"Wait here then, and I'll go and find out". Theimer left them in the pharmacy while he went upstairs to his apartments. He was gone for what felt like a long time, but the large Regulator clock on the wall had only ticked out about seven minutes before they heard two sets of footsteps returning. Theimer entered the room first, followed by his guest. Even the mouth of the worldly Klacel fell open however, as they were presented to the best chemist currently in Brno.

"Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Grete Dabrowska, my daughter and the person who I think might be able to solve your chemical problem," the pharmacist said with a huge smile, which he could hardly prevent from becoming a laugh.

Stepping forward a petite, blond, well dressed woman with large, widespread eyes and long dark lashes held out her hand to the first of the monks. "I am very pleased to meet you," she said in a calm, low, slightly musical voice. "My husband, Vladimir Dabrowska, was a fully trained industrial chemist, and I have completed two years of study at the University of Glessen, so I may be able to help you".

At that moment it was hard to say who was more surprised, the monks or the next customer who found the usually very serious pharmacist laughing his head off.