h；”　he　said　later。

“Tell　me　then；”　I　said　in　my　serious　voice。　“If　the　Sultan　of　the　Jinns　came

and　said　he’d　grant　you　a　wish；　what　would　you　want　most　of　all？”

“I’d　want　Shevket　to　go　away。”

“What　besides？　Would　you　want　to　have　a　father？”

“No；　when　I　grow　up　I’m　going　to　marry　you　myself。”

It wasn’t aging； losing one’s beauty or even being bereft of husband and

money that was the worst of all calamities； what was truly horrible was not

having　anyone　to　be　jealous　of　you。　I　lowered　Orhan’s　warming　body　from　my

lap。　Thinking　that　a　wicked　woman　like　myself　ought　to　wed　someone　with　a

good　soul；　I　went　up　to　see　my　father。

“His　Excellency　Our　Sultan　will　reward　you　after　seeing　for　Himself　that　His

book　has　been　pleted；”　I　said。　“You’ll　go　to　Venice　again。”

“I　cannot　be　certain；”　said　my　father。　“This　murder　has　distressed　me。　Our

enemies　are　apparently　quite　powerful。”

“I　know；　as　well；　that　my　own　situation　has　emboldened　them；　giving　rise

to　misunderstandings　and　unfounded　hopes。”

“How　do　you　mean？”

“I　ought　to　be　wed　as　soon　as　possible。”

“What？”　said　my　father。　“To　whom？　But　you　are　married。　Where　did　this

notion　e　from？”　he　asked。　“Who’s　asked　for　your　hand？　Even　if　we　were　to

find　a　reasonable　and　appealing　prospect；”　said　my　reasonable　father；　“I　doubt

we’d　be　able　to　take　him；　not　like　that；