第14部分(第6/7 頁)

　fragrant

soap； waiting for baksheesh； I inquired after the identity of the magnificent

miniaturist　responsible　for　the　piece。

“It is indeed important that a painting； through its beauty； summon us

toward　life’s　abundance；　toward　passion；　toward　respect　for　the　colors　of

the　realm　which　God　created；　and　toward　reflection　and　faith。　The　identity　of

the　miniaturist　is　not　important。”

65

Was　Nuri　the　Miniaturist；　who　was　much　more　subtle　in　thought　than　I’d

assumed；　being　reserved　because　he　understood　that　my　Enishte　sent　me　here

to　investigate；　or　was　he　merely　parroting　Head　Illuminator　Master　Osman？

“Is　Elegant　the　one　responsible　for　all　this　gilding　work？”　I　asked。　“Who’s

doing　the　gilding　now；　in　his　stead？”

The　shouts　and　screams　of　children　could　now　be　heard　through　the　open

door that faced the inner courtyard。 Below； one of the division heads had

started administering the bastinado to apprentices who’d most likely been

caught　with　red　ink　powder　in　their　pockets　or　gold　leaf　hidden　away　in　a　fold

of paper； probably the two whom I’d seen trembling as they waited in the

cold。　Young　painters；　seizing　an　opportunity　to　mock　them；　ran　to　the　door　to

watch。

“By　the　time　the　apprentices　paint　the　ground　of　the　Hippodrome　here a

rose color； finishing it off as our Master Osman has dictated；” said Nuri

Effendi cautiously； “our brother Elegant Effendi； God willing； will have

returned　from　wherever　he’s　gone　and　will　plete　the　gilding　on　these　two

pages。 Our master； Osman the Miniaturist； wanted Elegant Effendi to color