lodger； with whom I was forced to share a caravansary cell； were going to

recount　a　heart…warming　story。

257

The　Head　Treasurer　diffidently　said；　“Our　Sultan；　one　year　prior；　charged　me

with having an illuminated manuscript prepared under conditions of the

utmost　privacy；　a　manuscript　that　would　be　included　among　the　gifts　meant

for an ambassadorial delegation。 In light of the secrecy of the book； His

Excellency did not deem it appropriate that Master Lokman the Royal

Historian　be　enlisted　to　write　the　manuscript。　Similarly；　He　did　not　venture　to

involve you； ires。 Indeed； He supposed that you

were　already　fully　engaged　with　the　Book　of　Festivities。”

Upon entering this room I had abruptly assumed that some wretch had

slandered me； claiming that I was mitting heresy in such…and…such an

illustration　and　that　I’d　lampooned　the　Sovereign　in　another；　I　imagined　with

horror　that　this　tattler　had　been　able　to　convince　the　Sovereign　of　my　guilt　and

that　I　was　about　to　be　laid　out　for　torture　with　no　consideration　for　my　age。

And　so　to　hear　that　the　Head　Treasurer　was　simply　trying　to　make　amends　for

Our Sultan’s having missioned a manuscript from an outsider—these

words were sweeter than honey indeed。 Without learning anything new； I

listened to an account