insincere in her attempt to be

sincere；　she　said：

“The　followers　of　Nusret　Hoja　are　spreading　rumors　that　my　father’s　book

is a desecration and bears the marks of Frankish infideldom。 Have the

miniaturists who frequent our house grown jealous of each other to the

degree that they’re hatching plans？ You’ve been among them； you would

know　best！”

“Your late husband’s brother；” I said； “does he have any association with

these　miniaturists；　your　father’s　book　or　the　followers　of　Nusret　Hoja；　or　does

he　keep　to　himself？”

167

“He’s　not　involved　in　any　of　that；　but　he　doesn’t　keep　to　himself　at　all；”　she

said。

A　mysterious　and　strange　quiet　passed。

“When　you　lived　in　the　same　house　with　Hasan　wasn’t　there　any　way　you

could　get　away　from　him？”

“As　much　as　possible　in　a　two…room　house。”

A　few　dogs；　not　too　far　away；　giving　themselves　over　pletely　to　whatever

they　were　up　to；　began　barking　excitedly。

I couldn’t bring myself to ask why Shekure’s late husband； a man who’d

emerged　victorious　from　so　many　battles　and　had　bee　the　proprietor　of　a

fief； saw fit to have his wife live together with his brother in a two…room

house。 Timidly and hesitantly； I asked my childhood beloved the following

question：　“Why　did　you　see　fit　to　marry　him？”

“I　wa