d you； she’s sorry；” I

said。 “She wants to say that she loves you as a sister and as a woman who

shares　her　fate。　She　wants　you　to　think　about　this　and　help　her。　When　the　late

267

Elegant Effendi left here on his last night； did he mention he’d be seeing

anyone　besides　Enishte　Effendi？　Did　you　ever　consider　that　he　might’ve　been

going　to　meet　somebody　else？”

“This　was　found　on　his　person；”　she　said。

She removed a folded piece of paper from a lidded wicker box； which

contained　embroidery　needles；　pieces　of　cloth　and　a　large　walnut。

When　I　took　up　the　crumpled　piece　of　rough　paper　and　examined　it；　I　saw　a

variety　of　shapes　drawn　in　ink　that　had　run　and　smudged　in　the　well　water。　I’d

just　determined　what　the　forms　were　when　Kalbiye　voiced　my　thoughts。

“Horses；”　she　said。　“But　late　Elegant　Effendi　only　did　gilding　work。　He　never

drew　horses。　And　no　one　would’ve　ever　asked　him　to　render　a　horse。”

Your elderly Esther was looking at the horses which had been quickly

sketched；　but　she　couldn’t　quite　make　anything　of　them。

“If　I　were　to　take　this　piece　of　paper　to　Shekure；　she’d　be　quite　pleased；”　I

said。

“If　Shekure　desires　to　see　these　sketches；　let　her　e　get　them　herself；”　said

Kalbiye　with　no　small　hint　of　conceit。

268

I　AM　CALLED　BLACK

Maybe　you’ve　understood　by　now