s　argue　about　which　of　them　will　be　the　first　to　eat　with　their　only

spoon； and those who don’t know that this is a sly allusion to their true

concern—who’ll　be　the　first　to　bugger　the　other—find　it　amusing　and　laugh。

His Excellency Please…Don’t…Take…It…Wrong Hoja has uncovered our secret

because　he；　along　with　us；　the　pretty　young　boys；　apprentices　and　miniaturists；

are　all　fellow　travelers　on　the　same　path。”

The　Real　Secret

However； the real secret is this： While the Frank infidel was making our

picture； he gazed at us so sweetly and with such attention to detail that we

took a liking to him and enjoyed being depicted by him。 But； he was

mitting　the　error　of　looking　at　the　world　with　his　naked　eye　and　rendering

what　he　saw。　Thus；　he　drew　us　as　if　we　were　blind　although　we　could　see　just

fine；　but　we　didn’t　mind。　Now；　we’re　quite　content；　indeed。　According　to　the

Hoja；　we’re　in　Hell；　according　to　some　unbelievers　we’re　nothing　but　decayed

corpses　and　according　to　you；　the　intelligent　society　of　miniaturists　gathered

here；　we’re　a　picture；　and　because　we’re　a　picture；　we　stand　here　before　you　as

though we were alive and well。 After our run…in with the respected Hoja

Effendi　and　after　walking　from　Konya　to　Sivas　in　three　nights；　through　eight

villages；　begging　all　the　way；　one　night