The Marquis winced. He had hoped Pavi wouldn't ask about that, because he had done his best to think as little about it as possible, aside from what he had expressed to Kirk -- perhaps as some residual feeling that the younger man was somehow responsible for his well-being in this matter.

"The Abbe was the man in control of Charenton for much of my time there. His authority was undermined by a Doctor sent in by the Emperor when I began publishing again. He tried at first to intercede on my behalf and then eventually began carrying out the Doctor's punishments for him."