some　evil　is　ing　our　way；　and　I　think　he’s　right。

If　Hasan　and　his　men　raid　our　home　with　a　handful　of　Janissaries　and　bring

my father before the judge； would you testify that you’d in fact seen my

husband’s　corpse？　You’ve　recently　e　from　Persia；　they　would　believe　you。”

“I　would　testify；　but　I　wasn’t　the　one　who　killed　him。”

“All　right；　then。　Together　with　another　witness；　in　order　that　I　be　declared　a

widow；　would　you　testify　before　the　judge　that　you　saw　my　husband’s　bloody

corpse　on　the　battlefield　in　Persia？”

“I　didn’t　actually　see　it；　my　dear；　but　for　your　sake　I　would　testify　so。”

“Do　you　love　my　children？”

“I　do。”

“Tell　me；　what　is　it　about　them　that　you　love？”

“I love Shevket’s strength； decisiveness； honesty； intelligence and

stubbornness；” I said。 “And I love Orhan’s sensitive and delicate demeanor

and　his　astuteness。　I　love　the　fact　that　they’re　your　children。”

My black…eyed beloved smiled slightly and shed a few tears。 Then； in the

calculated　fluster　of　a　woman　hoping　to　acplish　a　lot　in　a　short　time；　she

changed　the　subject：

“My father’s book ought to be pleted and presented to Our Sultan。

This　book　is　the　source　of　the　bad　luck　that　plagues　us。”

“What　devilry　has　plagued　us　besides　the　murder　of　Elegant　Effendi？”

This question displeased her。 Appearing