第16部分(第5/7 頁)

st；

who painted exactly like the old masters without any signature or variation：

For　the　entire　day　before　the　wedding；　the　Shah’s　daughter　gazed　grief…stricken

at the painting made by the young and handsome great master who was to

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bee her husband on the morrow。 As darkness fell that evening； she

presented　herself　to　her　father：　“It　is　true；　yes；　that　the　old　masters；　in　their

exquisite　paintings；　would　depict　beautiful　maidens　as　Chinese；　and　this　is　an

unalterable rule e to us from the East；” she said。 “But when they loved

someone； the painters would include an aspect of their beloved in the

rendering　of　the　beautiful　maiden’s　brow；　eye；　lip；　hair；　smile；　or　even　eyelash。

This　secret　variation　in　their　illustrations　would　be　a　sign　that　could　be　read　by

the　lovers　and　the　lovers　alone。　I’ve　stared　at　the　beautiful　maiden　mounted

on　her　horse　for　the　whole　day；　my　dear　father；　and　there’s　no　trace　of　me　in

her！　This　miniaturist　is　perhaps　a　great　master；　he’s　young　and　handsome；　but

he　does　not　love　me。”　Thereupon；　the　Shah　canceled　the　wedding　at　once；　and

father　and　daughter　lived　out　the　remainder　of　their　lives　together。

“Thus； according to this third parable； imperfection gives rise to what we

call　”style；“”　said　Black　quite　politely　and　respectfully。　“And　does　the　fact　that

the miniaturist is in love bee apparent from the hidden ”sign‘ in the

image　of　the　beauty’s　face；　eye　or　smile？“

“Nay；” I said in a manner that bespoke my confidence and pride。 “What

passes from the maiden； the focus of the master miniatu