tent as content could be and

talented　as　talent　would　allow；”　said　Master　Osman。　“He　saw　to　his　work　with

such elegance that we referred to him as ”Elegant Effendi。“ But he has

abandoned us。 It’s been six days； and he’s not to be found anywhere。 He’s

plain　disappeared。”

“How　could　anyone　quit　such　a　workshop　as　this；　such　a　joyous　hearth？”　I

said。

“Butterfly； Olive； Stork and Elegant； the four young masters whom I’ve

trained since they were apprentices； now work at home at Our Sultan’s

behest；”　said　Master　Osman。

This apparently came about so they could work more fortably on the

Book　of　Festivities　with　which　the　entire　workshop　was　involved。　This　time；　the

Sultan　hadn’t　arranged　for　a　special　workspace　for　His　master　miniaturists　in

the　palace　courtyard；　rather；　He　decreed　that　they　work　on　this　special　book　at

home。　When　it　occurred　to　me　that　this　order　was　probably　issued　for　the　sake

of　my　Enishte’s　book；　I　fell　silent。　To　what　degree　was　Master　Osman　making

insinuations？

“Nuri Effendi；” he called to a pale and hunched painter； “present Our

Master　Black　with　a　”survey‘　of　the　workshop！“

The “survey” was a regular ritual of Our Sultan’s bimonthly visits to the

miniaturists’　atelier　during　that　exciting　time　when　His　Excellency　had　intently

foll