第60部分(第2/7 頁)

ge；　glimmering　tear　slid　from　Kalbiye’s　gleaming　eye　down　her　cheek；

and　at　the　first　opportunity；　your　good…hearted　Esther　decided　to　find　Kalbiye

a　better　husband　than　the　one　she’d　recently　lost。

“My late husband didn’t often share these concerns of his with me；”

Kalbiye said cautiously。 “Based on whatever I could remember and piece

together I’ve concluded that everything happened on account of the

illustrations　that　took　him　to　Enishte　Effendi’s　house　on　his　very　last　night。”

This　was　some　manner　of　apology。　In　response；　I　reminded　her　how　her　fate

and　Shekure’s；　not　to　mention　their　enemies；　were　the　same　if　one　considered

that　Enishte　Effendi　had　perhaps　been　killed　by　the　same　“scoundrel。”　The　two

large…headed　fatherless　waifs　staring　at　me　from　the　corner　suggested　another

similarity between the two women。 But my merciless matchmaker’s logic

quickly　reminded　me　that　Shekure’s　situation　was　much　more　beautiful；　rich

and　mysterious。　I　let　Kalbiye　know　exactly　what　I　felt：

“Shekure told me to tell you that if she has wronged you； she’s sorry；” I

said。 “She wants to say that she loves you as a sister and as a woman who

shares　her　fate。　She　wants　you　to　think　about　this　and　help　her。　When　the　late

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Elegant Effendi left here on his last night； did he mention he’d be seeing

anyone　besides　Enishte　Effendi？　Did　you　ever　consider　that　he　might’ve　been

going　to　meet　somebody　else？”

“This　was　found　on　his　person；”　she　said。

She removed a folded piece of paper from a lidded wicker box； which

contained　embroidery