第65部分(第2/7 頁)

emptily into the distance without

focusing。 That’s when I recognized with a thrill the sweet color and heart…

stopping folds of the paper which my master held and stared at with an

expression　of　disbelief。　This　matched　exactly　the　letters　that　Shekure　had　sent

me　via　Esther。　I　was　about　to　say；　“What　a　coincidence”　like　an　idiot；　when　I

noticed that； like Shekure’s first letter； it was acpanied by a painting on

coarse　paper！

Master　Osman　kept　the　painting　to　himself。　He　handed　me　the　letter　that　I

just　then　embarrassingly　realized　was　from　Shekure。

My Dear Husband Black。 I sent Esther to sound out late Elegant Effendi’s

widow； Kalbiye。 While there； Kalbiye showed Esther this illustrated page； which

I’m　sending　to　you。　Later；　I　went　to　Kalbiye’s　house；　doing　everything　within　my

power　to　persuade　her　that　it　was　in　her　best　interest　to　give　me　the　picture。　This

page was on poor Elegant Effendi’s body when he was removed from the well。

Kalbiye　swears　that　nobody　had　missioned　her　husband；　may　he　rest　in　divine

light；　to　draw　horses。　So　then；　who　made　them？　The　mander’s　men　searched

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the　house。　I’m　sending　this　note　because　this　matter　must　have　significance　to　the

investigation。　The　children　kiss　your　hands　respectfully。　Your　wife；　Shekure。

I　carefully　read　the　last　three　words　of　this　beautiful　note　thrice　as　if　staring

at three wondrous red roses in a garden。 I leaned over the page that Master

Osman　was　scrutinizing；　magnifying　lens　in　hand。　I　straightaway　noticed　that

the　shapes　whose　ink　had　bled　were　horses　sketched　in　a　sin