reign。 There was no doubt that I would plete Our Sultan’s secret

book； whose unfinished illustrations I carried under my arm。 Without

knowing　exactly　what　I　was　doing；　I　trailed　behind　the　tailor；　my　eyes　fixed　on

the　Divan　Tower；　spellbound　by　fear　more　than　awe　now　at　its　proximity。

Acpanied by a royal page who’d attached himself to us； we fearfully

and　silently；　as　in　a　dream；　passed　the　Divan　building　and　the　Treasury；　I　felt

that　I’d　seen　this　place　before　and　knew　it　well。

We　entered　through　a　wide　door　into　a　room　that　was　referred　to　as　the

Old Divan Chamber。 Beneath its huge dome； I saw master artisans holding

cloth； pieces of leather； silver scabbards and mother…of…pearl inlaid chests。 I

inferred that these men were from Our Sultan’s craftsmen’s guilds： mace

makers；　boot　makers；　silversmiths；　master　velvet　makers；　ivory　engravers；　and

luthiers。　They　were　all　waiting　outside　the　Head　Treasurer’s　door　with　various

245

petitions concerning payments； the acquisition of materials and requests to

enter the Sultan’s forbidden private quarters to take measurements。 I was

pleased　to　discover　no　illuminators　among　them。

We　withdrew　to　one　side　and　began　to　wait　as　well。　Occasionally；　we　heard

the raised voice of the treasurer’s clerk； suspecting an error in acco