upon with awe） and from among the

cypresses。 I attributed my sense of alarm to the fear of passing through the

Gate　of　Salutation；　or　Second　Gate；　which　I　would　soon　be　doing　for　the　first

time　in　my　life。

At the gate； I could neither focus my attention on the spot where the

executioners　were　said　to　be　ever　at　the　ready；　nor　could　I　hide　my　agitation

from　the　keepers　of　the　gate　who　glanced　inquiringly　at　the　bolt　of　upholstery

cloth　I　carried　as　a　prop　so　onlookers　would　assume　I　was　assisting　my　tailor…

cum…guide。

As　soon　as　we　entered　the　Divan　Square；　a　deep　silence　enveloped　us。　I　felt

my　heart　pounding　even　in　the　veins　of　my　forehead　and　neck。　This　area；　so

often described by my Enishte and others who visited the palace； lay before

me　like　a　heavenly　garden　of　unequaled　beauty。　Yet；　I　didn’t　feel　the　elation　of

a man who’d entered Heaven； just trepidation and pious reverence； I felt

myself to be a simple servant of Our Sultan； who； as I now thoroughly

understood；　was　indeed　the　foundation　of　this　worldly　realm。　I　stared　at　the

peacocks roaming through the greenery； the gold cups chained to splashing

fountains　and　the　Grand　Vizier’s　heralds　robed　in　silk　（who　seemed　to　move

about without touching the ground）； and I felt the thrill of serving my

Sove