learn　these　things？”

“Hasn’t　Shekure　told　you　about　Hasan’s　schemes　over　the　last　two　years　to

get　her　back　to　his　house？　There　was　a　time　when　Hasan　sent　letters　to　Shekure

through　me。”

“Did　she　ever　respond　to　them？”

“I　know　all　the　varieties　of　women　in　Istanbul；”　I　said　proudly；　“there’s　no

one　who’s　as　bound　to　her　house；　her　husband　and　her　honor　as　Shekure　is。”

“But　I　am　her　husband　now。”

His voice bore that typically male uncertainty that always depressed me。

Amazingly；　to　whichever　side　Shekure　fled；　the　other　side　went　to　pieces。

“Hasan　wrote　a　note　and　gave　it　to　me　to　deliver　to　Shekure。　It　described

how　Shevket　had　e　home　to　await　the　return　of　his　father；　how　Shekure

had　been　married　in　an　illegitimate　ceremony；　how　Shevket　was　very　unhappy

on　account　of　the　false　husband　who　was　supposed　to　be　his　new　father　and

how　he　was　never　going　back。”

“How　did　Shekure　respond？”

“She　waited　for　you　all　through　the　night　with　poor　Orhan。”

“What　about　Hayriye？”

“Hayriye’s been waiting for years for the opportunity to drown your

beautiful wife in a spoonful of water。 This was why she began sleeping with

your Enishte； may he rest in peace。 When Hasan saw that Shekure was

spending the night alone in fear of murderers and ghosts； he sent along

another　note　through　me。”