第36部分(第1/7 頁)

colored　robe　my　grandmother　had　embroidered　with　flowers；　and　tried　it　on；

but　it　didn’t　please　me。　As　I　was　trying　it　on　under　the　purple　blouse；　I　felt　a

chill； I shuddered； and the candle flame trembled with me。 Over it all； of

course；　I　was　going　to　wear　my　fox　fur–lined　street　robe；　but　at　the　last　minute

I　changed　my　mind；　and　silently　crossing　the　hall；　I　removed　the　very　long　and

loose　azure…colored　woolen　robe　that　my　mother　had　given　me　and　put　it　on。

Just　then　I　heard　a　noise　at　the　door　and　fell　into　a　panic：　Black　was　leaving！　I

quickly removed my mother’s old robe and put on the fur…lined red one： It

was tight around the bustline； but I liked it。 I then donned the softest and

whitest　veil；　lowering　it　over　my　face。

Black　Effendi　hadn’t　left　yet；　of　course；　I’d　let　my　apprehension　deceive　me。

If　I　go　out　now；　I　can　tell　my　father　that　I　went　to　buy　fish　with　the　children。　I

padded　down　the　stairs　like　a　cat。

I closed the door—click—like a ghost。 I quietly passed through the

courtyard　and　when　I　was　out　on　the　street；　momentarily　turned　and　looked

back　at　the　house。　From　behind　my　veil　it　seemed　as　if　it　wasn’t　our　house　at

all。

There　was　no　one　in　the　street；　not　even　any　cats。　Flakes　of　snow　danced　in

the　air。　With　a　shudder；　I　entered　the　abandoned　garden　where　sunlight　never

fell。　It　smelled　of　rotten　leaves；　dampness　and　death；　yet；　when　I　entered　the

house　of　the　Hanged　Jew；　I　felt　as　though　I　were　in　my　own　home。　They　say

that　jinns　meet　here　at　night；　light　the　stove　and　make　merry。　I　was　startled　to

hear　my　footsteps　in　the　empty　house。　I　waited