of　His

robe。　My　head　spun。　I　couldn’t　look　Him　in　the　eye。

He’d long since begun speaking with Head Illuminator Master Osman

anyway。 It filled me with fiery pride to witness Him speak to the man with

whom I’d only moments ago been sitting knee to knee looking at pictures。

Unbelievable；　His　Excellency　Our　Sultan　was　now　sitting　where　I’d　been　earlier

and　He　was　listening　attentively　to　what　my　master　was　explaining；　as　I　had

done。　The　Head　Treasurer；　who　was　at　his　side　and　the　Agha　of　the　Falconers

and a few others whose identities I couldn’t make out were keeping close

guard　over　Him　and　gazing　at　the　open　pages　of　books　with　rapt　attention。　I

gathered all my courage and looked at length at the face and eyes of the

Sovereign　Ruler　of　the　World；　albeit　with　a　sidelong　glance。　How　handsome　He

was！ How upright and proper！ My heart no longer beat excitedly。 At that

moment；　our　eyes　met。

“How much I loved your Enishte； may he rest in peace；” He said。 Yes； He

was　speaking　to　me。　In　my　excitement；　I　missed　some　of　what　He　was　saying。

“…I　was　quite　aggrieved。　Hofort　to　see　that　each　of

these　pictures　he　made　is　a　masterpiece。　When　the　Veian　giaour　sees　these；

he　will　be　stunned　and　fear　my　wisdom。　You　shall　determine　who　the　accursed

miniaturist is by this horse’