第40部分(第3/7 頁)

agnanimous men； who think themselves better and morally superior to

others；　cannot　look　you　in　the　eye　when　they　are　embarrassed　on　your　behalf；

perhaps　because　they　are　contemplating　reporting　you　and　abandoning　you　to

a　fate　of　torture　and　execution。

Outside； just in front of the courtyard gate； the dogs began a frenzied

howling。

“It’s begun to snow again；” I said。 “Where has everyone gone at this late

hour？　Why　have　they　left　you　here　all　alone？　They　haven’t　even　lit　a　candle　for

you。”

“It’s　quite　strange；　indeed；”　he　said。　“I　don’t　understand　it　myself。”

He　was　so　sincere　that　I　believed　him　pletely；　and　despite　ridiculing　him

just　as　the　other　miniaturists　did；　I　once　again　knew　that　I　actually　loved　him

profoundly。　But　hoy　sudden　and　great　flood　of

respect and affection； to which he responded by stroking my hair with

irresistible fatherly concern？ I began to see that Master Osman’s style of

painting；　and　the　legacy　of　the　old　masters　of　Herat；　had　no　future　whatsoever。

And　this　abominable　thought　frightened　me　yet　again。　After　some　tragedy；　we

all feel the same way： In one last desperate hope； and without caring how

ic　and　foolish　we　might　appear；　we　pray　that　everything　might　continue　as

it　always　has。

“Let’s　continue　to　illustrate　our　book；”　I　said。　“Let　everything　continue　as　it

always　has。”

“There’s a murderer among the miniaturists。 I am continuing my work

with　Black　Effendi。”

Was　he　provoking　me　to　kill　him？

180

“Where　is　Black　now？”　I　asked。　“Where　is　your　daughter　and　her　children？”

I　sensed　t