第83部分(第3/7 頁)

how　of　devilishness　and　lust　rather　than　bewilderment。　As　happy

yet　somber　lovers　who　emerged　as　if　from　a　love　poem　were　carried　away　by

the　force　of　passion　and　wine　in　a　garden　reminiscent　of　Paradise；　a　malicious

lady　servant　spied　on　them　with　an　envious　finger　in　her　red　mouth。

Despite its being a standard image recorded in the notebooks and

memories　of　all　miniaturists；　the　long　finger　sliding　into　a　beautiful　woman’s

mouth　had　a　different　elegance　each　time。

How much did these illustrations fort me？ As dusk fell； I went to

Master　Osman　and　said　the　following：

“My dear master； when the portal is opened once again； with your

permission；　I　shall　quit　the　Treasury。”

“How　do　you　mean！”　he　said。　“We　still　have　one　night　and　one　morning。

How　quickly　your　eyes　have　had　their　fill　of　the　greatest　illustrations　the　world

has　ever　known！”

As　he　said　this；　he　hadn’t　turned　his　face　away　from　the　page　before　him；

yet　the　paleness　in　his　pupils　confirmed　he　was　indeed　gradually　going　blind。

“We’ve　learned　the　secret　of　the　horse’s　nostrils；”　I　said　confidently。

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“Ha！” he said。 “Yes！ The rest is up to Our Sultan and the Head Treasurer。

Perhaps　they　will　pardon　us　all。”

Would　he　name　Stork　as　the　murderer？　I　couldn’t　even　ask　out　of　fear；　for　I

worried he wouldn’t allow me to leave。 Even worse； I had the recurring

thought　that　he　might　accuse　me。

“The　plume　needle　Bihzad　used　to　blind　himself　is　missing；”　he　said。

“In　all　probability　the　dwarf　put　it　back　in　its　place；”　I　said。　“The　page　before

you　is　so　magnificent！”

His　face　lit　up　like