Dom Paulo, the abbey's new abbot, glowers at the village of Sanly Bowitz in the distance. Drama, drama, drama.
He orders the monk to read Apollo's letter to him again.
The letter informs Dom Paulo that Thon Taddeo has finally agreed to go to the abbey.
It also warns him that Taddeo is a secular scholar and a political captive of Hannegan and his state.
As the monk reads, Dom Paulo thinks about Taddeo's childhood. The scholar spent those kiddie days in a monastery instead of playing with army men, Hot Wheels, and Barbies. He had pretty much no fun at all.
The abbot wonders if Apollo is trying to tell him something between the lines. Why mention this other information?
Dom Paulo's reverie is interrupted by Father Gault, who's wondering if Old Benjamin is dead yet. Always a pleasant conversation starter, that.
Dom Paulo says he's going to go visit the Old Jew in a day or two, so they don't have to guess one way or another.
And because being a hermit must be lonely work.
Father Gault tells him that there are three small matters that need attending to. First, the Poet needs a boot. Second, Vespers has to be dealt with. Third, there's Brother Kornhoer's experiment.
Dom Paulo says he'll handle the Poet and has Father Gault take care of Vespers. Then he asks about Brother Kornhoer's experiment.
Seems Kornhoer and Brother Armbruster are butting heads over it.
Kornhoer says the work is progress, but Armbruster claims it's perdition (13.57). Can't it be both?
And then the team breaks. Dom Paulo heads to the Poet's room where he finds a goat.
Seems the Poet won the beast from Old Benjamin in a game of chance.
The Poet lies in bed with a bottle of wine, and is told to move into the stable boy's cell.
Dom Paulo also tells him to return the goat. Or else.