So I actually haven't read MoR - could you summarize the reference for me? I mean, I can basically see what you're saying from context, but is there anything beyond that it would be useful to know?

There isn't much more to it than can be inferred from the context. MoR:Quirrel is just a clever, devious and rational manipulator.

My instinct is that it just doesn't feel like something Eliezer would do. But what do I know?

I don't either... but then that's the assumption MoR:Harry made about MoR:Dumbledore. At Quirrel's prompting Harry decided "it was time and past time to ask Draco Malfoy what the other side of that war had to say about the character of Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore." :)

(Of course EY hasn't been in a war and I don't think there are any people who accuse him of being an especially devious political manipulator.)