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ntelligence or

caution would be persuaded。 Considering that my husband left me without

alimony and hasn’t returned from war for four years； even judges of our

Hanefi creed couldn’t grant me a divorce。 The üsküdar judge； however；

knowing　how　the　number　of　women　in　my　situation　is　increasing　each　day；　is

more　sympathetic　and　so—with　a　nod　from　Our　Excellency　the　Sultan　and　the

Sheikhulislam—the judge occasionally allows his proxy of the Shafü creed to

rule in his place； thereby granting divorces left and right to women like me；

including　conditions　of　alimony。　Now；　if　you　can　find　two　witnesses　to　testify

openly to my predicament； pay them off； cross the Bosphorus with them to

the　üsküdar　side；　arrange　for　the　judge；　making　certain　that　his　proxy　will　sit

in　for　him　so　the　divorce　might　be　granted　by　virtue　of　the　witnesses；　register

the divorce in the judge’s ledger； obtain a certificate testifying to the

proceeding； obtain written permission for my immediate remarriage； and if

you　can　acplish　all　of　this　and　get　back　to　this　side　of　the　Bosphorus　by　the

afternoon； then—assuming no difficulty in finding a preacher who might

marry　us　this　evening—then；　as　my　husband；　you　could　spend　this　night　with

me　and　my　children。　Thereby；　you’ll　also　spare　us　a　sleepless　night　of　hearing

in　every　creaking　of　the　house　the　steps　of　that　devilish　murderer。　Moreover；

you’ll save me from the wretchedness of being a poor unprotected woman

when　we　announce　the　death　of　my　father　in　the　morning。”

“Yes；”　said　Black　with　good　humor　and　somewh