第21部分(第2/7 頁)

finishing　the　letter；　he　read　it　anew。

“Yes；”　I　said；　“and　what　has　he　written？”

Hasan　read：

My Dearest Shekure； as I too have for years now sustained myself through my

dreams of one single person； I respectfully understand your waiting for your

husband　without　considering　another。　What　else　could　one　expect　from　a　woman

of　your　stature　besides　honesty　and　virtue？　＇Hasan　cackled！＇　My　ing　to　visit

your　father　for　the　sake　of　painting；　however；　does　not　amount　to　harassing　you。

This　would　never　even　cross　my　mind。　I　make　no　claim　at　having　received　a　sign

from you or any other encouragement。 When your face appeared to me at the

window like divine light； I considered it nothing but an act of God’s grace。 The

pleasure of seeing your face is all I need。 ＇“He took that from Nizami；” Hasan

interrupted；　annoyed。＇　But　you　ask　me　to　keep　my　distance；　tell　me　then；　are　you

an　angel　that　approaching　you　should　be　so　terrifying？　Listen　to　what　I　have　to

say； listen： I used to try to sleep watching the moonlight fall onto the naked

mountains from remote and godforsaken caravansaries where nobody but a

desperate　han　keeper　and　a　few　thugs　fleeing　the　gallows　lodged；　and　there；　in　the

middle of the night； listening to the howling of wolves even lonelier and more

unfortunate　than　myself；　I　used　to　think　that　one　day　you　would　suddenly　appear

to　me；　just　as　you　did　at　the　window。　Read　closely：　Now　that　I’ve　returned　to　your

father for the sake of the book； you’ve sent back the picture I made in my

childhood。　I　know　this　i