verse； a Book of Festivities； for Our Sultan by order of the Head Illuminator

Master Osman。 Each of the miniaturists works at his own home。 Master

Osman；　however；　occupies　himself　at　the　palace　book…arts　workshop。　To　begin

with；　I　want　you　to　go　there　and　observe　everything。　I　worry　that　the　others；

that is； the miniaturists； have ended up falling out with and slaying one

another。 They go by the workshop names that Head Illuminator Master

Osman gave them years ago：　”Butterfly；“ ”Olive；“ ”Stork‘…You’re also to go

and　observe　them　as　they　work　in　their　homes。“

Instead of heading downstairs； I spun around。 There was a noise ing

from the next room with the built…in closet where Hayriye slept。 I went in。

Inside　there　was　no　Hayriye；　just　my　mother。　She　was　embarrassed　to　see　me。

She　stood　half　in　the　closet。

“Where　have　you　been？”　she　asked。

But　she　knew　where　I’d　been。　In　the　back　of　the　closet　there　was　a　peephole

through　which　you　could　see　my　grandfather’s　workshop；　and　if　its　door　were

open；　the　wide　hallway　and　my　grandfather’s　bedroom　across　the　hall　by　the

staircase—if；　of　course；　his　bedroom　door　were　open。

“I　was　with　grandfather；”　I　said。　“Mother；　what　are　you　doing　in　here？”

“Didn’t　I　tell　you　that　your　grandfather　had　a　guest　and　that　you　weren’t　to

bother　them？”　She　scolded　me；　but　not　very　loud；　because　she　didn’t　want　the

guest　to　hear。　“What　were　they　doing？”　she　asked　afterward；　in　a　sweet　voice。

“They were seated。 Not with the paints though。 Grandfather spoke； the

other　listened。”

“In　what　manner　was　he