第9部分(第4/7 頁)

2。 That I’ve folded it up like a French pastry implies secrecy and mystery；

true。 But the letter isn’t sealed and there’s a huge picture enclosed。 The

apparent　implication　is；　“Pray；　keep　our　secret　at　all　costs；”　which　more　befits

an　invitation　to　love　than　a　letter　of　rebuke。

3。 Furthermore； the smell of the letter confirms this interpretation。 The

fragrance　was　faint　enough　to　be　ambiguous—did　she　intentionally　perfume

the　letter？—yet　alluring　enough　to　fire　readers’　curiosity—is　this　the　aroma　of

attar or the smell of her hand？ And a fragrance； which was enough to

enrapture　the　poor　man　who　read　the　letter　to　me；　will　surely　have　the　same

effect　on　Black。

4。 I am Esther； who knows neither how to read nor write； but this I do

know：　Although　the　flow　of　the　script　and　the　handwriting　seems　to　say　“Alas；

I am rushed； I am writing carelessly and without paying serious attention；”

these letters that twitter elegantly as if caught in a gentle breeze convey the

exact　opposite　message。　Even　her　phrase　“just　now　e”　when　referring　to

Orhan； implying that the letter was written at that very moment； betrays a

ploy　no　less　obvious　than　care　taken　in　each　line。

5。 The picture sent along with the letter depicts pretty Shirin gazing at

handsome　Hüsrev’s　image　and　falling　in　love；　as　told　in　the　story　that　even　I；

Esther the Jewess； know well。 All the lovelorn ladies of Istanbul adore this

story；　but　never　have　I　known　someone　to　send　an　illustration　relating　to　it。

It happens all the time to you fortunate