第97部分(第6/7 頁)

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believed； if not to the same degree； what Enishte described to me at length

about　the　Frankish　masters　and　their　artistry。　I　used　to　believe　quite　sincerely

that　we　Ottoman　artists　could　fortably　take　from　this　or　that　aspect　of　the

Frankish　methods　as　much　as　our　hearts　desired　or　as　much　as　could　be　seen

during　a　visit　abroad—without　bartering　with　the　Devil　or　bringing　any　great

harm　upon　us。　Life　was　easy；　your　Enishte；　may　he　rest　in　peace；　had　succeeded

Master　Osman；　and　was　a　new　father　to　me　in　this　new　life。“

“Let’s not discuss that point yet；” said Black。 “First describe how you

murdered　Elegant。”

“This deed；” I said； recognizing that I couldn’t use the word “murder；” “I

mitted　this　deed　not　only　for　us；　to　save　us；　but　for　the　salvation　of　the

entire　workshop。　Elegant　Effendi　knew　he　posed　a　powerful　threat。　I　prayed　to

Almighty　God；　begging　him　to　give　me　a　sign　showing　me　how　despicable　this

scoundrel　really　was。　My　prayers　were　answered　when　I　offered　Elegant　money。

God had shown me how wretched he really was。 These gold pieces came to

mind；　but　by　divine　inspiration；　I　lied。　I　said　the　gold　pieces　weren’t　here　in

the　lodge；　but　I’d　hidden　them　elsewhere。　We　went　out。　I　walked　him　through

empty streets and out…of…the…way neighborhoods without any consideration

for　where　we　were　going。　I　had　no　idea　what　I　would　do；　and　in　short；　I　was

afraid。　At　the　end　of　our　wandering；　after　we’d　e　to　a　street　we’d　passed

earlier； our brother Elegant Effendi the gilder； who devoted his entire life to

form　and　repetition；　grew　suspicious。　But　God　provi