a mystery to me； but he wasn’t even

embarrassed by it。 He took no outside jobs to earn a few extra silver coins。

After I related these facts； Black said it was Olive who showed the most

enthusiasm for and the most ease with the styles of the Frankish masters

admired　by　his　late　Enishte。　I　understood　this　to　be　praise　from　the　deceased

fool’s point of view； mistaken though it was。 I can’t say whether Olive was

more　deeply　and　secretly　bound　to　the　Herat　styles—which　went　back　to　his

father’s　mentor　Siyavush　and　Siyavush’s　mentor　Muzaffer；　back　to　the　era　of

Bihzad　and　the　old　masters—than　he　appeared　to　be；　but　it　always　made　me

wonder　whether　Olive　harbored　other　hidden　tendencies。　Of　my　miniaturists

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（I told myself spontaneously）； he was the most quiet and sensitive； but also

the　most　guilty　and　traitorous；　and　by　far　the　most　devious。　When　I　thought

about　the　mander’s　torture　chambers；　he　was　the　first　to　e　to　mind。

（I　both　wanted　and　didn’t　want　him　to　be　tortured。）　He　had　the　eyes　of　a　jinn；

he　noticed　and　took　account　of　everything；　including　my　own　shortings；

however； with the reserve of an exile able to acmodate himself to any

situation；　he’d　rarely　open　his　mouth　to　point　out　mistakes。　He　was　wily；　yes；

but not in my opinion a murderer。 （I didn’t tell Black this。） Olive didn’t

believe　in　anything。　He　had　no　faith　in　money；　but　he’d　nervously　squirrel　it

away。 Contrary to what is monly believed； all murderers are men of

extreme faith rather than unbelievers。 Manuscript illumination leads to

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