第82部分(第6/7 頁)

arnestly　to　the　drivel　of

that foolish preacher from Erzurum—unfortunately； masters of gilding；

though closer to God than painters； are also boring and stupid—and

moreover；　because　he　knew　your　silly　Enishte’s　book　was　an　important　project

of　the　Sultan；　his　fears　and　doubts　clashed：　Should　he　believe　in　his　Sultan　or

in　the　preacher　from　Erzurum？　Any　other　time　this　unfortunate　child；　whom　I

knew　like　the　back　of　my　hand；　would’ve　e　to　me　about　a　dilemma　that

was　eating　away　at　him。　But　even　he；　with　his　bird　brain；　knew　very　well　that

the　act　of　gilding　for　your　Enishte；　that　mimic　of　the　Franks；　amounted　to　a

betrayal　of　me　and　our　guild；　and　so　he　sought　another　confidant。　He　confided

in the wily and ambitious Stork and made the mistake of letting himself be

awed　by　the　intellect　and　morality　of　a　man　whose　talent　impressed　him。　I’ve

seen plenty of times how Stork manipulated Elegant Effendi by taking

advantage of the poor gilder’s admiration。 Whatever argument took place

between them； it resulted in Elegant Effendi’s murder at Stork’s hands。 And

since　the　deceased　long　ago　confided　his　worries　to　the　Erzurumis；　they；　in　a

fit of vengeance and to demonstrate their power； went on to kill your

Frankophile Enishte； whom they held responsible for the death of their

panion。　I　can’t　say　that　I’m　all　that　sorry　about　the　whole　matter。　Years

ago；　your　Enishte　duped　Our　Sultan　into　having　a　Veian　painter—his　name

was　Sebastiano—make　a　portrait　of　His　Excellency　in　the　Frankish　style　as　if　He

were an infidel king。 Not satisfied with that； in