It was somewhat galling that this should be the most respectable
occupation that could be put forward, but Lucas Hansen was evidently
reassured by it. He next asked whether Ambrose could read Latin,
putting a book into his hand as he did so; Ambrose read and
construed readily, explaining that he had been trained at Beaulieu.

"That is well!" said the printer; "and hast thou any Greek?"

"Only the alphabeta," said Ambrose, "I made that out from a book at
Beaulieu, but Father Simon knew no more, and there was nought to
study from."

"Even so," replied Hansen, "but little as thou knowst 'tis as much
as I can hope for from any who will aid me in my craft. 'Tis I
that, as thou hast seen, furnish for the use of the children at the
Dean's school of St. Paul's. The best and foremost scholars of them
are grounded in their Greek, that being the tongue wherein the Holy
Gospels were first writ. Hitherto I have had to get me books for
their use from Holland, whither they are brought from Basle, but I
have had sent me from Hamburg a fount of type of the Greek
character, whereby I hope to print at home, the accidence, and
mayhap the Dialogues of Plato, and it might even be the sacred
Gospel itself, which the great Doctor, Master Erasmus, is even now
collating from the best authorities in the universities."

Ambrose's eyes kindled with unmistakable delight. "You have the
accidence!" he exclaimed. "Then could I study the tongue even while
working for you! Sir, I would do my best! It is the very
opportunity I seek."