and　that　he　was　now　mocking　us；　perhaps。　This　Hasan　was　the　Devil　incarnate。

But　I　couldn’t　be　certain　of　anything。

“Listen　to　me；　Hasan　Effendi；”　Black　called　out　to　the　darkness。　“My　father…

in…law was murdered； this much is true。 The most despicable of men killed

him。”

“He’d　been　murdered　before　the　wedding；　isn’t　that　so？”　said　Hasan。　“You

two　killed　him　because　he　opposed　this　marriage　sham；　this　fake　divorce；　the

false　witnesses　and　all　your　deceits。　If　he’d　considered　Black　to　be　appropriate；

he’d　have　given　his　daughter　to　him　years　ago。”

Having　lived　for　years　with　my　late　husband；　with　us；　Hasan　knew　our　past

as well as we ourselves did。 And with the passion of a spurned lover； he

remembered　every　last　detail　of　everything　I’d　discussed　with　my　husband　at

home； but had subsequently forgotten； or now wanted to forget。 Over the

years；　we’d　shared　so　many　memories—he；　his　brother　and　I—that　I　worried

how　strange；　new　and　distant　Black　would　seem　to　me　if　Hasan　were　to　begin

recounting　the　past。

“We　suspect　that　you　were　the　one　who　killed　him；”　Black　said。

235

“On　the　contrary；　you　were　the　ones　who　killed　him　so　you　could　marry。

This　is　evident。　As　for　me；　I　have　no　motive。”

“You killed him so we wouldn’t get married；” said Black。 “When you

learned　that　he’d　permitted　Shek