第23部分(第4/7 頁)

dering　it　as　they　quickly　descended　the　hill　toward　the

Golden Horn。 They were walking so fast； they’d already traveled half of the

muddy　road　that　led　down　the　snow…covered　valley　to　Eyüp。　In　the　silent　fog；

off to the left； the chimney of the Han？m Sultan Charity candleworks shop

happily piped up its smoke。 Under the shadow of the walls； there were

tanneries　and　the　bustling　slaughterhouses　that　served　the　Greek　butchers　of

Eyüp。　The　smell　of　offal　ing　from　these　places　had　wafted　over　the　valley；

which　extended　to　the　vaguely　discernible　domes　of　the　Eyüp　Mosque　and　its

cypress…lined cemetery。 After walking for a while longer； I heard from below

the　shouts　of　children　at　play　ing　from　the　new　Jewish　quarter　in　Balat。

When　we　reached　the　plain　where　Eyüp　was　located；　Butterfly　approached

me；　and　in　his　usual　fiery　manner；　abruptly　broached　his　subject：

“Olive　and　Stork　are　the　ones　behind　this　vulgarity；”　he　said。　“Like　everyone

else； they knew I had a bad relationship with the deceased。 They knew

everyone was aware of this。 There was jealousy between us； even open

animosity and antagonism； over who would assume leadership of the

workshop after Master Osman。 Now they expect the guilt to fall on my

shoulders； or at the least； that the Head Treasurer； and under his influence；

Our　Sultan；　will　distance　themselves　from　me；　nay；　from　us。”

“Who　is　this　”us’　of　which　you　speak？“

“Those of us who believe that the old morality ought to persist at the

workshop；　that　we　should　follow　the　path　laid　by　the　Persian　masters；