第84部分(第6/7 頁)

“In　that　entryway　over　there　is　a　vile　Tatar　beggar；”　I　said。　“He’s　blind；　but

he’ll know who’s e and gone along this street better than the

neighborhood　headman　does。　He　continually　plays　with　himself　as　if　he　were

one　of　the　Sultan’s　vulgar　monkeys。　Without　letting　your　hand　touch　his；　give

him　eight　or　ten　silver　pieces　and　he’ll　tell　you　everything　he　knows。”

From a distance； I watched Black hand over the coins； then lay his sword

against the throat of the beggar and begin to pressure him with questions。

Next；　I’m　not　sure　how　it　happened；　the　barber’s　apprentice；　who　I　thought

was　simply　watching　the　house；　began　to　beat　the　Tatar　with　the　butt　of　his

axe。　I　watched　for　a　while；　thinking　it　wouldn’t　last；　but　the　Tatar　was　wailing。

I　ran　over　and　pulled　the　beggar　away　before　they　killed　him。

371

“He　cursed　my　mother；”　said　the　apprentice。

“He　says　that　Hasan　isn’t　home；”　Black　said。　“Can　we　trust　what　this　blind

man　says？”　He　handed　me　a　note　that　he’d　quickly　written。　“Take　this；　bring　it

to　the　house；　give　it　to　Hasan；　and　if　he’s　not　there；　give　it　to　his　father；”　he

said。

“Haven’t　you　written　anything　for　Shekure？”　I　asked　as　I　took　the　note。

“If　I　send　her　a　separate　note；　it’ll　incite　the　men　of　the　house　even　more；”

Black　said。　“Tell　her　I’ve　found　her　father’s　vile　murderer。”

“Is　this　true？”

“Just　tell　her。”

Chastising the Tatar； who was still crying and plaining； I quieted him

down。　“Don’t　forget　what　I’ve　done　for　you；”　I　said；　ing　to　the　realization

that　I’d　drawn　out　the　incident　so　I　wouldn’t　have　to　leave。

Why　had　I　stuck