WithinthedarknessofthehouseoftheHangedJew,ShekurefurrowedherbrowandbeganravingthatImighteasilystickthemonstrosityIheldinmyhandsintothemouthsofCircassiangirlsI’dmetinTiflis,Kipchakharlots,poorbridessoldatinns,TurkmenandPersianwidows,onprostituteswhosenumberswereincreasinginIstanbul,leingerians,coquettishAbkhazians,Armenianshrews,GenoeseandSyrianhags,thespianspassingaswomenandinsatiableboys,butitwouldnotgointohers.Sheangrilyaccusedmeofhavinglostallsenseofdeandself-trolbysleepingwithallmannerofcheap,patheticriffraff—fromPersiatoBaghdadandfromthealleywaysofsmallhotArabiantownstotheshoresoftheCaspian—andofhavingfottenthatsomewomenstilltookpainstomaintaintheirhonor.Allmywordsoflove,shecharged,wereinsincere.

    Irespectfullylisteomybeloved’soutburst,whichcausedtheguiltymemberinmyhandtofade,andthoughIwasthhlyembarrassedbythesituationandtherejeIwassuffering,twothings

    pleasedme:1.thatIrefrainedfromlmyselftomatchShekure’swrathonseofsimilarhue,asIoftenhadreactedviciouslytootherwomeninsimilarsituations,and2.thatIdiscoveredShekure’sparticularawarenessofmytravels,proofthatshe’dthoughtofmemuchmorethanI’dassumed.

    SeeinghowdowncastI’dbeeatbeinguocarryoutmydesires,she’dalreadybeguntopityme.

    “Ifyoutrulylovedme,passionatelyandobsessively,”shesaidasiftryingtoexcuseherself,“you’dtrytotrolyourselflikeagentleman.Youwouldn’ttrytooffendthehonorofthewomantowardwhomyoueainedseriousiions.You’renottheonlymanwho’smakingmotionstomarryme.Didanyoneseeyouonyourwayhere?”

    “Nay.