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ened。 Our dim…witted boyhood

friend disliked it here； and he quickly decided the accusations of blasphemy

he’d learned from your Enishte ark。 So； our beloved

apprenticeship panion； who’d at first implored； ”Help me； convince me

that　we　won’t　go　to　Hell　so　I　might　sleep　in　peace　tonight；“　in　a　newfound；

threatening　tone；　began　to　insist　that　”this　will　end　in　nothing　but　evil。“　He

was　convinced　the　preacher　hoja　from　Erzurum　would　hear　the　rumors　that　in

the final picture we’d veered from the orders of Our Sultan； who’d never

forgive this transgression。 Convincing him everything was clear skies and

sunshine was nearly impossible。 He’d tell all to the preacher’s dull

congregation； exaggerating Enishte’s absurdities； the anxieties about affronts

to the religion and rendering the Devil in a favorable light； and they’d

naturally　believe　every　slanderous　word。　I　don’t　have　to　tell　you　how；　not　only

the　artisans；　but　the　entire　society　of　craftsmen　have　grown　jealous　of　us　since

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we’ve bee the intense focus of Our Sultan’s attention。 Now all of them

will gleefully declare in unison ”the miniaturists are mired in heresy。“

Furthermore； the cooperation between Enishte and Elegant Effendi would

prove this slander true。 I say ”slander‘ because I don’t believe in what my

brother　Elegant　said　about　the　book　and　the　last　picture。　Even　then；　I　would

hear　nothing　against　your　late　Enishte。　I　found　it　quite　appropriate　that　Our

Sultan turn his favors from Master Osman to Enishte Effendi； and I eve