。　I　must　find　a　husband　who’ll　put　me　on　a　pedestal；　but　who

might　that　be？

That　was　why　I　began　spying　through　a　peephole　on　the　sons　of　pashas　and

notables； whom my late father had invited to our house under various

pretexts。 I wanted my predicament to resemble that of the petite…mouthed

beauty　with　two　children　whom　all　the　miniaturists　love。　Perhaps　it’d　be　best

for me to describe to you poor Shekure’s story。 But wait a minute； I’d

promised　to　recount　the　following　story　tonight：

383

The　Love　Story　Told　by　a　Woman　Prompted　by　the　Devil

It’s　quite　simple　actually。　The　story　takes　place　in　Kemerüstü；　one　of　the　poorer

neighborhoods of Istanbul。 A prominent inhabitant of the neighborhood；

Chelebi Ahmet； secretary to Vas？f Pasha； was a married gentleman with two

children　who　kept　to　himself。　One　day；　through　an　open　window；　he　catches

sight　of　a　black…haired；　black…eyed；　silver…skinned；　tall　and　thin　Bosnian　beauty；

and　is　smitten。　But；　the　woman　is　married；　has　no　interest　whatsoever　in　the

Chelebi；　and　is　devoted　to　her　handsome　husband。　The　hapless　Chelebi　refuses

to　confide　his　woes　to　anybody；　and　reduced　by　love　to　skin　and　bone；　takes　to

wine　he’s　bought　from　a　Greek；　yet　ultimately　he　cannot　hide　his　love　from　the

neighborhood。 At first； because the neighbors adore such love stories and

admire　and　respect　the　Chelebi；　they　honor　his　love；　making　a　passing　joke　or

two　about　it　and　letting　life　take　its　course。　But　the　Chelebi；　who　can’t　control

his　incurable　agony；　begins　to　get　drunk　each　night　and　sit　at　the　doorstep　of

the house wherein