emadebyrepeatedlytragidenticalshipswithablockpatterndidn’teveofloatinthesea;yet,thisartificiality,thelackofwindinthesails,hadlesstodowiththeblockpatternthantheyoungpainter’slackofskill.IsawwithsorrowthatthepatternhadbeencutviolentlyoutofanoldbookwhichIcouldn’tidentify,perhapsacollagealbum.Obviously,MasterOsmanwasoverlookingquitealot.

    Whenwecametohisownworktable,NuriEffendiproudlystatedthathefinishedagildedroyalinsignia

    forOurSultan,whichhe’dbeenwonforthreeweeks.IrespectfullyadmiredNuriEffendi’sgoldinlayandtheinsignia,whichhadbeenmadeoysheettoeitsrecipientandthereasonforitsbeiwouldremai.IknewwellenoughthatmanyimpetuouspashasihadrefrainedfromrebellionupohenobleandpotentsplendoroftheSultan’sroyalinsignia.

    ,wesawthelastmasterpiecesthatJemaltheCalligrapherhadtranscribed,pletedabehind;butwepassedoverthemhastilytoavoidgivingcredeoopposofcoloranddecorationwhomaintaihattrueartsistedofcalligraphyalohatdecorativeilluminationwassimplyasedarymeansofaddingemphasis.

    Nas1rtheLimnerwasmakingamessofaplateheinteorepairfromaversionoftheQuiofNizamidatingbacktotheeraofTamerlane’ssons;thepicturedepictedHüsrevlookingatanakedShirinasshebathed.

    Awo-year-oldformermasterwhowashalfblindandhadnothingtosaybesidesclaimingthatsixtyyearsagohekissedMasterBizhad’shandinTabrizandthatthegreatmasteroflegendwasblindanddrunkatthetime,showeduswithtremblinghandstheoriononthepenboxhewouldpresentasaholidaygifttoOurSultawaspletedthreemonthshence.

    Shortlyasilenvelopedthewholeworks