Among Tzetzes' pupils, Konstantinos Kotertzes was the laziest, making almost no progress in comparison with the others, despite being given a second chance. Tzetzes had warned Konstantinos' father Theodoretos of this fact, and now repeated it in writing, returning his fee and expelling him from the classes. Theodoretos was devastated, and replied in terms which reminded Tzetzes of high tragedy. He read the letter to his pupils, who were all very affected - even Konstantinos, who at last showed promising signs