ehardlyanyiedts.Tosellpiethecheapandtobetterlureabuyer,somesimplydrawinblakonnonsized,unfinishedpaperwithnaryabrushstrokeofcolor.”

    “Therewasagilderofminewhowastentastentcouldbeandtalealentwouldallow,”saidMasterOsmaohisworkwithsuchelegawereferredtohimas”ElegantEffendi.“Buthehasabandonedus.It’sbeensixdays,andhe’snottobefoundanywhere.He’splaindisappeared.”

    “Howcouldasuchaworkshopasthis,suchajoyoushearth?”Isaid.

    “Butterfly,Olive,Storka,thefouryoungmasterswhomI’vetrainedsiheyrentiowworkathomeatOurSulta,”saidMasterOsman.

    ThisapparentlycameaboutsotheycouldworkmorefortablyontheBookofFestivitieswithwhichtheentireworkshopwasinvolved.Thistime,theSultanhadn’tarrangedforaspecialworkspaceforHismasterminiaturistsinthepalacecourtyard;rather,Hedecreedthattheyworkonthisspecialbookathome.WhenitoccurredtomethatthisorderrobablyissuedforthesakeofmyEnishte’sbook,Ifellsilent.TowhatdegreewasMasterOsmanmakinginsinuations?

    “NuriEffendi,”hecalledtoapaleandhunchedpainter,“presentOurMasterBlackwitha”survey‘oftheworkshop!“The“survey”wasaregularritualofOurSultan’sbimonthlyvisitstotheminiaturists’atelierduringthatexgtimewhenHisExcellencyhadilyfollowedwhattranspiredattheworkshop.UheauspicesofHaz?m,the

    HeadTreasurer;Lokman,theHeadPoeticiclerandMasterOsman,theHeadIlluminator,OurSultanwouldbeapprisedofwhichpagesinwhichbooksthemasterswerewonatanygive:whodidwhichgilding,whocoloredwhichpicture,andonebyone,howthecolorists,thepagerulers,thegildersaerminiaturists,whosetalental