ir　fill　of　the　greatest　illustrations　the　world

has　ever　known！”

As　he　said　this；　he　hadn’t　turned　his　face　away　from　the　page　before　him；

yet　the　paleness　in　his　pupils　confirmed　he　was　indeed　gradually　going　blind。

“We’ve　learned　the　secret　of　the　horse’s　nostrils；”　I　said　confidently。

364

“Ha！” he said。 “Yes！ The rest is up to Our Sultan and the Head Treasurer。

Perhaps　they　will　pardon　us　all。”

Would　he　name　Stork　as　the　murderer？　I　couldn’t　even　ask　out　of　fear；　for　I

worried he wouldn’t allow me to leave。 Even worse； I had the recurring

thought　that　he　might　accuse　me。

“The　plume　needle　Bihzad　used　to　blind　himself　is　missing；”　he　said。

“In　all　probability　the　dwarf　put　it　back　in　its　place；”　I　said。　“The　page　before

you　is　so　magnificent！”

His　face　lit　up　like　a　child’s；　and　he　smiled。　“Hüsrev；　burning　with　love；　as

he waits astride his horse for Shirin before her palace in the middle of the

night；”　he　said。　“Rendered　in　the　style　of　the　old　masters　of　Herat。”

He　was　now　gazing　at　the　picture　as　if　he　could　see　it；　but　he　hadn’t　even

taken　the　magnifying　glass　into　his　hand。

“Can you see the splendor in the leaves of the trees in the nighttime

darkness； appearing one by one as if illuminated from within like stars or

spring flowers； the humble patience impl