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French court.” Davoir shook his head. “All this may suggest some medical competence, but I remain amazed that there is no monk, fully trained in medicine, in charge of the hospital. How can you manage cures without a doctor who can read the vital signs found in urine?”
    Thomas caught himself wondering how a man who had just lectured him on humility could sound so vain. Did this priest really think that he could change a situation, deemed by him to be improper, merely by willing it to do so?
    “Since our abbess has made you aware of this fact, you will understand why I called upon his skills in this important matter of your clerk’s health.” The sub-infirmarian deliberately ignored his remark about an infirmarian monk.
    “You and I differ on the issue of what is best for the lad’s well-being.” Father Etienne turned to the prior. “Since my sister leads the Order of Fontevraud, I both understand and respect the premise of a woman leading men as the earthly representative of Our Lady. This otherwise unnatural situation applies only to the abbess and the prioresses of her daughter houses. It does not apply to the nuns within each priory.”
    Prior Andrew paled and said nothing.
    “They must, as is a woman’s lot, follow the rule of men as it is we who represent the higher spirit while women are but lowly flesh.” Davoir gestured to the prior. “You will do as I direct, Prior Andrew, and examine my clerk. Sister Anne, you will await his observations and, if required, my further instructions.” He spun around and pointed. “Brother Thomas, you may leave the quarters.”
    “As you wish, Father, but I beg one favor,” the prior replied. “Since I must speak with Brother Thomas as soon as we leave about some complex matters, I ask that he remain so I do not have to waste time finding him again.” Andrew looked dutifully sheepish. “Such a boon to me would be most kind.”
    Brother Thomas tried hard not to grin at the prior’s cleverness.
    Davoir nodded. “As you will.” He waved at the monk. “Stand near the door where you will not interfere with the consultation.”
    Thomas did as he was ordered but was pleased to note that he could still overhear most of what Sister Anne and Prior Andrew discussed.
    As expected, the consultation took much longer than needed. In one thing only had Davoir been correct. Not being a physician, Sister Anne rarely examined the color, smell, texture, or taste of a patient’s urine, although experience and observation had taught her a little. She had chosen not to mention that detail to Davoir.
    But she was a skilled apothecary, and Prior Andrew, a former soldier and untrained in the medical arts, had no idea what he should be looking for. Had the matter been less serious, the back and forth discussions between the pair might have been humorous.
    Finally, Sister Anne had had enough and muttered instructions to the prior. The process went much faster. When Prior Andrew next emerged from the clerk’s sickroom, Sister Anne whispered some words into his ear, and he turned to address Father Etienne.
    “The illness is not dire. Your clerk may have eaten something that did not agree with him. The hospital has a remedy for the humor imbalance, but it must be prepared. We will deliver it to you as soon as that is done. The lay brother will bring instructions on dosage.”
    Pleased, the priest thanked Prior Andrew, ignored Sister Anne, blessed Gracia, and dismissed the party from his presence. Thomas had already slipped out of the chambers.
    ***
    As they walked back to the hospital, Sister Anne laughed. “From what our good prior told me, the youth suffers from too much wine drunk at dinner last night. He almost vomited in our prioress’ chambers, coughed to hide the affliction, and swallowed the bile. Then he gagged in the attempt. Poor lad! He denied the excess at first, but his symptoms pointed to a sour stomach and an even more painful head. He confessed all when our prior