"I beg you, Johann, do this one last thing for me," Brother Matthew had pleaded that evening. "Give me the alizarin-red-S formula, and the secret for making it properly dye the cotton cloth. Then give me these last two days and let me make you the next Abbot".

"That is a lot more than 'one-last-thing' my friend," Brother Gregory said with a smile. The two friends were in Mendel's rooms after a long, hard day and the shock of their latest scientific discovery. Following the finding that the 'Napp Letter', as they were calling it, was a forgery there had been a lot of discussion as to what to do with this information. At first Brother Matthew had wanted to take the evidence and confront Brother Timothy with it. But cooler heads had prevailed.

"First, he would just deny any involvement with it," Brother Joseph pointed out, rationally. "We would have great difficulty showing some of our less-scientific colleagues that the ink was not the kind used by Abbot Napp. Remember, most humanists do not understand logic and reason, so many of them would not believe that the letter was a forgery. They would vote for him anyway. When it comes to the act of voting, very few people use their heads and not their hearts".

It was easy to see that Brother Matthew was becoming more and more frustrated by these 'logical' arguments. "Feelings are more important than facts," he insisted, like a good liberal. "We must persuade them that anyone who would condone a forged letter is not fit to become the next Abbot".

When the group finally left the basement laboratory, nothing had been decided, except that sleep was needed and tomorrow would bring clearer heads. Frau Dabrowska reluctantly took a carriage back to her father's house and promised to return early the next morning, but Klacel had insisted on accompanying Mendel back to his rooms. Where he made his request.

"Please, Mendel, please!" he begged.

"What are you going to do?" Mendel wanted to know, suddenly suspicious. He had known his bother monk for a long time, and could read the signs. Klacel's face had taken on a hard, crafty look that told Mendel he was about to do something foolish.

Instead of answering him right away, Brother Matthew asked a question of his own. "Would you still be willing to become the next Abbot and would you sign that 'Reise-Pass' for me so I could use it to leave the country legally?"

For a long minute Brother Gregory looked at his friend and saw in his face a reflection of all the good times and the bad times they had spent together. Without Klacel his early days in the monastery would have been a lot more miserable, and without the Czech monk's loyal support, he would have frequently been in a lot more trouble than he deserved. "Yes," he said quietly, "I'll do that for you, even if it means the end of my scientific career".

He handed over two sheets of carefully written formulae for the preparation and use of Alizarin-red-S. "I suppose this means I should not tell Herr Waldschmidt of our results when I see him next," he said.

"I need two days," Brother Matthew said grimly, "and one more vote. Then you can tell anyone anything you like".

So they went to bed, and the next morning, despite a serious frost and the fear of yet more snow, Klacel was no where to be seen at Mass, Chapter, or breakfast afterwards. This caused some considerable speculation, but less than the consternation caused by the non-arrival of Frau Dabrowska and the lack of a warming fist meal of the day.

One person in Brno found out before the rest where Brother Matthew was, and what he was up to; Otto Grunewald. The busy industrialist was fortifying himself with a solid breakfast before setting out. His plans were maturing nicely and he could feel the swelling tide of success sweeping him up to bigger and better things. So he was not too pleased when his servant announced that a monk was wanted to see him urgently, and the name of that monk was Brother Matthew.

"What do you want?" he growled. He had almost been on the point of refusing to allow Brother Matthew into his house, never mind his breakfast room, but he remembered just in time that Klacel often worked with Brother Gregory, and perhaps had been sent with some news.

His visitor paused in the doorway and looked around the well appointed home of the next Generaldirektor of the Webereimitarbeiter, then put himself in a chair on the other side of the table. "Thank you for seeing me," he said, "Please don't offer me breakfast, I won't be here that long".

Since Grunewald had no intention of offering the monk anything to eat, this was good news indeed. "What can I do for you?" he asked, making sure there was no welcoming warmth in his voice.

"I have an offer for you," Brother Matthew said slowly, "an important offer I want you to consider very carefully. I concerns the future of three people, one of which is you". He saw the slight look of shock on Grunewald's face, and continued, "I want you to ensure that Brother Gregory becomes the next Abbot of St. Thomas' monastery in two days time. He will make a good Abbot, as you well know, and will be a fine, conscientious administrator of that ancient establishment. He is the best man for the job".

It took a moment for Herr Otto Grunewald to react. "What!" he shouted, "what are you saying? Why would I be in the least interested in who becomes the next Abbot? Anyway, I am reliably informed that Brother Timothy has all the votes he needs. Why would I change that?"

"Two reasons," Brother Matthew told him, very glad he had kept the solid oak breakfast table between them. "First, Brother Gregory will make a much better Abbot, and it is your duty to see that the best man wins. Secondly, such an outcome would assure you of receiving the formula for the red-dye you need so much for your own future".

It did not take long for the look of puzzlement to vanish from Herr Gunewald's face. He had not become a leading manufacturer and very successful businessman by being slow on the uptake. "You mean Mendel has solved the chemical structure of the alizarin dye and knows how to use it?"

In answer Klacel placed a small square of beautifully dyed cotton on the surface between them, and watched Grunewald pick it up and examine it thoughtfully. "This is excellent," he said at last, putting down the cotton and picking up a delicate china cup containing what passed for Czech coffee. The negotiations had begun.

"Why would Mendel want to become Abbot? He may be the most honest of your shabby lot, but he is surely the least suited to the task. Someone like Brother Timothy has many more of the political skills you will need to ensure your survival, from what I have heard".

"There is more to monastery life than playing politics with the Bishop," Brother Matthew said, "and Brother Gregory will be the best at keeping all the egos stroked and the monks from killing each other during the long winters".

"He wants this job?"

"Yes".

Grunewald shook his head at the stupidity of some people, he had always thought that Mendel had more sense. "And what do you get out of this?" he asked, suspiciously.

"The satisfaction of knowing that I have helped the monastery get Brother Gregory as their next Abbot," Klacel said smoothly, "nothing more. But I want you to know that Brother Gregory does not know I am here, or what I am doing on his behalf. If he knew, he would probably be angry at my interference. He did not instigate these negotiations".

"But he does have the alizarin formulae?"

"No, I do".

"Ahhh! I see".

"I hope you do".

"You are making me an offer. I help you get Brother Gregory elected Abbot, and you will give me the formulae I need to make and dye the cloth I have promised the Countess? Do I understand you correctly?"

"Indeed you do".

"And if I refuse your offer? What then?"

"Let us not be crude, Herr Grunewald, we are both gentlemen. I don't need to threaten you and you don't need to abuse me. What you do need are these formulae, and the directions on how to use them. Perhaps it has not occurred to you that I may have changed Brother Gregory's instructions, just enough to make the whole exercise fruitless. Without my knowledge, it could take weeks to find out what the problems were, if you could find them at all".

Slowly Herr Grunewald poured himself another cup of brown liquid, and looked at Brother Matthew over the lip of his cup as he drank. "I am a simple man," he said, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "I wish to clarify exactly what is on offer here, and what it will cost me. In return for my help you will hand over to me a set of instructions on how to make and use the dye I need and guarantee that it is correct and that it will work?"

"The vote is in less than two days. Once Mendel is Abbot, you get the formulae and my assurances that they will work".

Grunewald could not help grunting in dissatisfaction. "And what if Mendel does not get elected? It is a free vote, you know, anything could happen".

"With the plan I have in mind, he will certainly be elected," Brother Matthew said with confidence. "That is why I came to you. Only you can make it work".

Picking up the red square of cloth once more, Grunewald walked over to the window and looked at it again, testing, pulling and even wetting the cloth and the color that was on it. He saw in this small sample his own future and his next success. With the satisfactory production of red cloth the Countess could hold the grandest wedding for her great grand-daughter and would certainly support his next move up the social hierarchy of Moravia - with a friend in the Countess, anything was possible. He could even see himself in Prague, at the Emperor's Palace in the not too distant future.

He turned back to Brother Matthew. "So, tell me how I can help get Mendel elected".

And Klacel told him.