第21部分(第4/7 頁)

rn　a　lot　of　money；　Customs　Officer　Hasan。　This　makes

one　a　good　person…”　I　said　and　fled。

The　house　was　so　dark　and　melancholy　that　the　air　outside　seemed　warmer。

The sunlight hit my face。 I wished for Shekure’s happiness。 But I also felt

something　for　that　poor　man　in　that　damp；　chilly　and　dark　house。　On　a　whim；

I turned into the Spice Market in Laleli thinking the smells of cinnamon；

saffron　and　pepper　would　restore　my　spirits。　I　was　mistaken。

At Shekure’s house； after she took up the letters； she immediately asked

after　Black。　I　told　her　that　the　fire　of　love　had　mercilessly　engulfed　his　entire

being。　This　news　pleased　her。

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“Even　lonely　spinsters　busy　with　their　knitting　are　discussing　why　Elegant

Effendi　might’ve　been　killed；”　I　said　later；　changing　the　subject。

“Hayriye；　make　some　halva　as　a　present　of　condolence　and　take　it　over　to

Kalbiye；　poor　Elegant　Effendi’s　widow；”　said　Shekure。

“All　the　Erzurumis　and　quite　a　crowd　of　others　will　be　attending　his　funeral

service；”　I　said。　“His　relatives　swear　they’ll　avenge　his　spilt　blood。”

Shekure had already begun to read Black’s letter。 I looked into her face

intently and angrily。 This woman was probably such a fox that she could

control　how　her　passions　were　reflected　in　her　face。　As　she　read　I　sensed　that

my silence pleased her； that she regarded it as my approval of the special

import　she　gave　to　Black’s　letter。　Shekure　finished　the　letter　and　smiled　at　me；

to　meet　with　her　satisfaction；　I　felt　forced　to　ask；　“What　has　he　written？”

“Just　as　in　his　childhood…He’s　in　love　with　me。”