第24部分(第1/7 頁)

decided once and for all to take Cyprus from the Veians。 Sheikhulislam

Ebussuut Effendi； recalling that this island was once designated a

missariat　for　Mecca　and　Medina；　issued　a　fatwa　which　more　or　less　stated

that　it　was　inappropriate　for　an　island　which　had　helped　sustain　holy　sites　to

remain　under　Christian　infidel　control。　In　turn；　the　difficult　task　of　informing

the Veians of this unforeseen decision； that they must surrender their

island； fell to me。 As a result； I was able to tour the cathedrals of Venice。

Though　I　marveled　at　their　bridges　and　palazzos；　I　was　most　enchanted　by　the

pictures hanging in Veian homes。 Nevertheless； in the midst of this

bewilderment； trusting in the hospitality displayed by the Veians； I

delivered the menacing correspondence； informing them in a haughty；

supercilious fashion that Our Sultan desired Cyprus。 The Veians were so

angry　that　in　their　congress；　which　had　been　hastily　convened；　it　was　decided

that　even　to　discuss　such　a　letter　was　unacceptable。　Furious　mobs　had　forced

me　to　confine　myself　to　the　Doge’s　palazzo。　And　when　some　rogues　managed

to　get　past　the　guards　and　doorkeepers　and　had　set　to　strangling　me；　two　of

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the Doge’s personal musketeers succeeded in escorting me out one of the

secret　passageways　to　an　exit　that　opened　onto　the　canal。　There；　in　a　fog　not

unlike this one； I thought for an instant that the tall and pale gondolier

dressed　in　white；　who’d　taken　me　by　the　arm；　was　none　other　than　Death。　I

caught　sight　of　my　reflection　in　his　eyes。

Lon