ands；　arms；　slight　bodies　or　even　eyes。　For　them；

everything within the navy…blue night is frozen： The bird flies through the

darkness；　among　the　stars；　with　a　fluttering　like　the　racing　hearts　of　the　lovers

themselves；　and　at　the　same　time；　remains　fixed　for　all　eternity　as　if　nailed　to

the　sky　in　this　matchless　moment。　The　old　masters　of　Herat；　who　knew　that

God’s　velvet　blackness　was　lowering　over　their　eyes　like　a　curtain；　also　knew

that　if　they　went　blind　while　staring　motionless　at　such　an　illustration　for　days

365

and weeks on end； their souls would at last mingle with the eternity of the

picture。”

At the time of the evening prayer； when the portal of the Treasury was

opened with the same ceremony and under the gaze of the same throng；

Master Osman was still staring intently at the page before him； at the bird

that　floated　motionless　in　the　sky。　But　if　you　noticed　the　paleness　in　his　pupils

you’d also realize that he stared at the page quite oddly； as blind men

sometimes　incorrectly　orient　themselves　to　the　food　before　them。

The　officers　of　the　Treasury　detail；　learning　that　Master　Osman　would　stay

inside　and　that　Jezmi　Agha　was　at　the　door；　neglected　to　search　me　thoroughly

and　never　found　the　plume　needle　I　hid　in　my　undergarment。　When　I　emerged

onto the streets of Istanbul from the palace courtyard； I slipped into a

passageway and removed the terrifying object； with which the legendary

Bihzad had blinded himself； from where it was； and stuck it into my sash。 I

practically　ran　through　the　streets。