第9部分(第3/7 頁)

m　also

returning the picture you painted and sent to me when you were an impulsive

youth with his wits not yet about him。 I do this so you won’t harbor any false

hopes or misread any signs。 It’s a mistake to believe that one could fall in love

gazing　at　a　picture。　It’d　be　best　if　you　stopped　ing　to　our　house　pletely。

My　poor　Shekure；　you’re　neither　a　nobleman　nor　a　pasha　with　a　fancy　seal

to　stamp　your　letter！　At　the　bottom　of　the　page；　she　signed　the　first　letter　of

her　name；　which　looked　like　a　small；　frightened　bird。　Nothing　more。

I　said　“seal。”　You’re　probably　wondering　how　I　open　and　close　these　wax…

sealed letters。 But in fact the letters aren’t sealed at all。 “That Esther is an

illiterate Jew；” my dear Shekure had assumed。 “She’ll never understand my

writing。”　True；　I　can’t　read　what’s　written；　but　I　can　always　have　someone　else

read　it。　And　as　for　what’s　not　written；　I　can　quite　readily　“read”　that　myself。

Confused；　are　you？

Let me put it this way； so even the most thick…headed of you will

understand：

A　letter　doesn’t　municate　by　words　alone。　A　letter；　just　like　a　book；　can

be　read　by　smelling　it；　touching　it　and　fondling　it。　Thereby；　intelligent　folk　will

say；　“Go　on　then；　read　what　the　letter　tells　you！”　whereas　the　dull…witted　will

say；　“Go　on　then；　read　what　he’s　written！”　Listen；　now；　to　what　else　Shekure

said：

1。 Though I’ve sent this letter in secret； by relying on Esther； who’s made

letter…delivery　a　matter　of　merce　and　custom；　I’m　signifying　that　I　don’t

intend　to　conceal　that　much　at　all。

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