第67部分(第2/7 頁)

e to knee looking at pictures。

Unbelievable；　His　Excellency　Our　Sultan　was　now　sitting　where　I’d　been　earlier

and　He　was　listening　attentively　to　what　my　master　was　explaining；　as　I　had

done。　The　Head　Treasurer；　who　was　at　his　side　and　the　Agha　of　the　Falconers

and a few others whose identities I couldn’t make out were keeping close

guard　over　Him　and　gazing　at　the　open　pages　of　books　with　rapt　attention。　I

gathered all my courage and looked at length at the face and eyes of the

Sovereign　Ruler　of　the　World；　albeit　with　a　sidelong　glance。　How　handsome　He

was！ How upright and proper！ My heart no longer beat excitedly。 At that

moment；　our　eyes　met。

“How much I loved your Enishte； may he rest in peace；” He said。 Yes； He

was　speaking　to　me。　In　my　excitement；　I　missed　some　of　what　He　was　saying。

“…I　was　quite　aggrieved。　Hofort　to　see　that　each　of

these　pictures　he　made　is　a　masterpiece。　When　the　Veian　giaour　sees　these；

he　will　be　stunned　and　fear　my　wisdom。　You　shall　determine　who　the　accursed

miniaturist is by this horse’s nose。 Otherwise； however merciless； it’ll be

necessary　to　torture　all　the　master　miniaturists。”

“Sovereign Refuge of the World Your Excellency My Sultan；” said Master

Osman。　“Perhaps　we　can　better　catch　the　man　responsible　for　this　slip　of　the

brush；　if　my　master　miniaturists　are　forced　to　draw　a　horse　on　a　blank　sheet　of

paper；　quickly；　without　any　story　in　mind。”

“Only；　of　course；　if　this　is　really　a　slip　of　the　brush　and　not　an　actual　nose；”

said　Our　Sultan　shrewdly。

296

“My　Sultan；”　said　Master　Osman；　“to　this