Chapter 19 Summary

The abbot does all he can to make amends, and the scholar apologizes for his outburst, having been informed about how Kornhoer designs and manufactures the device just recently. Paolo worries Taddeo's ego is bruised by not having made the invention, the scholar is more concerned four monks must spend all their time running and maintaining the dynamo for him to enjoy light. He spends several days studying the abbey at large, verifying the "oyster" before turning to the "pearl," the Memorabilia. When Kornhoer finds an assistant on his knees at the refectory entrance, he suspects some special devotion to Mary, but learns he is measuring the depression made by centuries of sandals at the optimal point for calculating traffic - three times per day per monk. They use this to validate architectural and historical records, since objective evidence is the ultimate authority...