第21部分(第5/7 頁)

“What　are　your　thoughts？”

“I’m　a　married　woman。　I’m　waiting　for　my　husband。”

Contrary　to　your　expectations；　the　fact　that　she’d　lie　to　me　after　asking　me

to　get　involved　in　her　affairs　didn’t　anger　me。　Actually；　this　ment　relieved

me。 If more of the young maidens and women I’ve carried letters for and

advised　in　the　ways　of　the　world　attended　to　details　the　way　Shekure　did；　they

would’ve lessened the work for us both by half。 More importantly； they

would’ve　ended　up　in　better　marriages。

“What　does　the　other　one　write？”　I　asked　anyway。

“I don’t intend to read Hasan’s letter right now；” she answered。 “Does

Hasan　know　that　Black’s　returned　to　Istanbul？”

“He　doesn’t　even　know　he　exists。”

“Do you speak with Hasan？” she asked； opening wide her beautiful black

eyes。

“As　you’ve　requested。”

“Yes？”

“He’s　in　agony。　He’s　deeply　in　love　with　you。　Even　if　your　heart　belongs　to

another； it’ll be difficult ever to be free of him now。 By accepting his letters

you’ve　greatly　encouraged　him。　Be　wary　of　him；　however。　For　not　only　does　he

want　to　make　you　return　there；　but　by　establishing　that　his　older　brother　has

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died； he’s preparing to marry you。” I smiled to soften the weight of these

words　and　so　as　not　to　be　reduced　to　being　that　malcontent’s　mouthpiece。

“What’s the other one say； then？” she asked； but did she herself know

whom　she　was　inquiring　after？

“The　miniaturist？”

“My mind’s all ajumble；” she said suddenly； perhaps afraid of her own

thoughts。　“It　seems　that　matters　will　bee　even　more　confused。