Tidings of Ulrich’s disappearance and the Jew’s flight had spread rapidly through the monastery; the news was discussed in the choir, the school, the stable and the kitchen; Father Anselm alone had heard nothing of the matter, though he had been busy in the library before daybreak, and the vexatious incident had been eagerly talked of there.

It was evident, that the elderly man cared little for anything that happened in the world, outside of his manuscripts and printing.  His long, narrow head rested on a thin neck, which did not stand erect, but grew out between the shoulders like a branch from the stem.  His face was grey and lined with wrinkles, like pumice-stone, but large bright eyes lent meaning and attraction to the withered countenance.

At first he listened indifferently to the abbot’s story, but as soon as the Jew’s name was mentioned, and he had read the diploma, as swiftly as if he possessed the gift of gathering the whole contents of ten lines at a single comprehensive glance, he said eagerly: 

“Lopez, Doctor Lopez was here!  And we did not know it, and have not consulted with him!  Where is he?  What are people planning against him?”

After he had learned that the Jew had fled, and the abbot requested him to tell all he knew about the doctor, he collected his thoughts and sorrowfully began: 

“To be sure, to be sure; the man committed a great offence.  He is a great sinner in God’s eyes.  You know his guilt?”

“We know everything,” cried the magistrate, with a meaning glance at the prelate.  Then, as if he sincerely pitied the criminal, he continued with well-feigned sympathy:  “How did the learned man commit such a misdeed?”

The abbot understood the stratagem, but Anselm’s words could not be recalled, and as he himself desired to learn more of the doctor’s history, he asked the monk to tell what he knew.

The librarian, in his curt, dry manner, yet with a warmth unusual to him, described the doctor’s great learning and brilliant intellect, saying that his father, though a Jew, had been in his way an aristocratic man, allied with many a noble family, for until the reign of King Emanuel, who persecuted the Hebrews, they had enjoyed great distinction in Portugal.  In those days it had been hard to distinguish Jews from Christians.  At the time of the expulsion a few favored Israelites had been allowed to stay, among them the worthy Rodrigo, the doctor’s father, who had been the king’s physician and was held in high esteem by the sovereign.  Lopez obtained the highest honors at Coimbra, but instead of following medicine, like his father, devoted himself to the humanities.