第98部分(第7/7 頁)

d；　and　I　stuck　it　into

my　sash。　I　focused　my　gaze　into　his　lamblike　eyes。

“I　pity　beautiful　Shekure　because　she　had　no　alternative　but　to　marry　you；”

I　said。　“If　I　hadn’t　been　forced　to　kill　Elegant　Effendi　to　save　you　all　from　ruin；

she would’ve married me and been happy。 Indeed； I was the one who most

fully　understood　the　tales　and　talents　of　the　Europeans　as　her　father　recounted

them　to　us。　So；　listen　carefully　to　the　last　of　what　I　will　tell　you：　There　is　no

longer　any　place　here　in　Istanbul　for　us　master　miniaturists　who　wish　to　live

by skill and honor alone。 Yes； this is what I’ve realized。 If we’re reduced to

431

imitating　the　Frankish　masters；　as　the　late　Enishte　and　Our　Sultan　desired；　we

will　be　restrained；　if　not　by　the　Ezurumis　and　those　like　Elegant　Effendi；　then

by　the　justified　cowardice　within　us；　and　we　won’t　be　able　to　continue。　If　we

fall　sway　to　the　Devil　and　continue；　betraying　everything　that　has　e　before

in　a　futile　attempt　to　attain　a　style　and　European　character；　we　will　still　fail—

just as I failed in making this self…portra