sounds of her children running

through　the　house；　I　know　he’s　aware　that　my　daughter　has　returned　here　to

her　father’s　house　with　her　two　sons。

I’ve neglected to mention the new house I had built in Black’s absence。

Most likely； Black； like any young fellow who’d set his mind to being a

man　of　wealth　and　prestige；　considered　it　quite　discourteous　to　broach　such　a

subject。 Still； when we entered； I told him on the staircase that the second

floor　was　always　less　humid；　and　that　moving　upstairs　had　served　to　ease　the

pains　in　my　joints。　When　I　said　“the　second　floor；”　I　felt　oddly　embarrassed；

but let me tell you： Men with much less money than I； even simple spahi

cavalrymen with tiny military fiefs； will soon be able to build two…story

houses。

We were in the room with the blue door that I used as the painting

workshop　in　winter；　and　I　sensed　that　Black　was　aware　of　Shekure’s　presence

in　the　adjacent　room。　I　at　once　disclosed　to　him　the　matter　that　inspired　the

letter　I’d　sent　to　Tabriz；　inviting　him　to　Istanbul。

“Just　as　you　did　in　concert　with　the　calligraphers　and　miniaturists　of　Tabriz；

I；　too；　have　been　preparing　an　illustrated　manuscript；”　I　said。　“My　client　is；　in

fact； His Excellency Our Sultan； the Foundation of the World。 Because this

book　is　a　secret；　Our　Sultan　has　disbursed　payment　to　me　under　cover　of　the

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Head　Treasurer。　And　I　have　e　to　an　understanding　with　each　of　the　most

talented and acplished artists of Our Sultan’s atelier。 I have been in the

process of missioning one of them to il