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rom her husband who’s long

vanished at war anyway？ Listen； I’d understand if there were a good；

trustworthy candidate for son…in…law； because then he wouldn’t pass away

with　his　wish　unfulfilled。”

“There　is　a　prospect；　sir；”　I　said。

“Who　might　that　be？”

“It　is　I！”

“e　now！　You’re　the　guardian’s　representative！”　said　the　judge’s　proxy。

“What　line　of　work　are　you　in？”

“In　the　eastern　provinces；　I　served　as　secretary；　chief　secretary　and　assistant

treasurer to various pashas。 I pleted a history of the Persian wars that I

intend to present to Our Sultan。 I’m a connoisseur of illustrating and

decoration。　I’ve　been　burning　with　love　for　this　woman　for　twenty　years。”

“Are　you　a　relative　of　hers？”

I was so embarrassed at having fallen so abruptly and unexpectedly into

groveling　meekness　before　the　judge’s　proxy；　at　having　bared　my　life　like　some

dull　object　devoid　of　any　mystery；　that　I　fell　pletely　silent。

“Instead　of　turning　beet　red；　give　me　an　answer；　young　man；　lest　I　refuse　to

grant　her　a　divorce。”

“She’s　the　daughter　of　my　maternal　aunt。”

“Hmmm；　I　see。　Will　you　be　able　to　make　her　happy？”

When he asked the question he made a vulgar hand gesture。 The

miniaturist　should　omit　this　indelicacy。　It’d　be　enough　for　him　to　show　how

much　I　blushed。

“I　make　a　decent　living。”

“As　I　belong　to　the　Shafü　sect；　there　is　nothing　contrary　to　the　Holy　Book　or

my creed in my granting the divorce of this unfortunate Shekure； whose

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husband　has　been　missing　at　the　front　for　four　years；”　said　the　Proxy　Effendi。