passion　to　my　daughter。

As　a　result；　he　pletely。

I assumed that Black now also knew how three years after he’d left

Istanbul； my daughter married a spahi cavalryman； at the height of her

loveliness；　and　that　this　soldier；　having　fathered　two　boys　but　still　bereft　of　any

mon　sense；　had　gone　off　on　a　campaign　never　to　return　again。　No　one　had

heard　from　the　cavalryman　in　four　years。　I　gathered　he　was　aware　of　this；　not

only because such gossip spreads fast in Istanbul； but because during the

silences　that　passed　between　us；　I　felt　he’d　learned　the　whole　story　long　ago；

judging　by　the　way　he　looked　into　my　eyes。　Even　at　this　moment；　as　he　casts

an eye at the Book of the Soul； which stands open on the folding X…shaped

reading stand； I know he’s listening for the 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