tist。　The　greedy　oaf　was　ready　to　dig　into

the　frozen　earth　with　his　fingernails。　You　see；　if　I　truly　had　gold　pieces　buried

beside that well； I wouldn’t have had to do away with him。 Yes； you hired

yourself　quite　a　miserable　wretch　to　do　your　gilding。　The　dearly　departed　had

finesse； but his choice of color and application was ordinary； and his

illuminations were uninspired。 I didn’t leave a trace…Tell me； then； what is

the　essence　of　”style‘？　Today；　both　the　Franks　and　the　Chinese　talk　about　the

character　of　a　painter’s　talent；　what　they　call　“style。”　Should　style　distinguish　a

good　artist　from　others　or　not？“

“Fear not；” I said； “a new style doesn’t spring from a miniaturist’s own

desire。　A　prince　dies；　a　shah　loses　a　battle；　a　seemingly　never…ending　era　ends；　a

workshop　is　closed　and　its　members　disband；　searching　for　other　homes　and

other　bibliophiles　to　bee　their　patrons。　One　day；　a　passionate　sultan

will　assemble　these　exiles；　these　bewildered　but　talented　refugee　miniaturists

and calligraphers； in his own tent or palace and begin to establish his own

book…arts workshop。 Even if these artists； unaccustomed to one another；

continue　at　first　in　their　respective　painting　styles；　over　time；　as　with　children

who　gradually　bee　friends　by　roughhousing　on　the　street；　they’ll　quarrel；