urchildren.”

    Myblack-eyedbelovedsmiledslightlyandshedafewtears.Then,inthecalculatedflusterofaingtoaplishalotinashorttime,shegedthesubject:

    “Myfather’sbookoughttobepletedaedtoOurSultan.Thisbookisthesourceofthebadluckthatplaguesus.”

    “WhatdevilryhasplaguedusbesidesthemurderofElegantEffendi?”

    Thisquestiondispleasedher.Appearinginsincereiempttobesincere,shesaid:

    “ThefollowersofHojaarespreadingrumorsthatmyfather’sbookisadesecrationahemarksofFrankishinfideldom.Havetheminiaturistswhofrequentourhousegrownjealousofeachothertothedegreethatthey’rehatgplans?You’vebeenamongthem,youwouldk!”

    “Yourlatehusband’sbrother,”Isaid,“doeshehaveanyassociationwiththeseminiaturists,yourfather’sbookorthefollowersofHoja,ordoeshekeeptohimself?”

    “He’snotinvolvedinanyofthat,buthedoesohimselfatall,”shesaid.

    Amysteriousandstrangequietpassed.

    “WhenyoulivedinthesamehousewithHasanwasn’tthereanywayyoucouldgetawayfromhim?”

    “Asmuchaspossibleinatwo-roomhouse.”

    Afewdogs,nottoofaraway,givingthemselvesoverpletelytowhatevertheywereupto,beganbarkiedly.

    Icouldn’tbringmyselftoaskwhyShekure’slatehusband,amanwho’demergedvictoriousfromsomanybattlesandhadbeetheproprietorofafief,sawfittohavehiswifelivetogetherwithhisbrotherinatwo-roomhouse.Timidlyaantly,Iaskedmychildhoodbelovedthefollowiion:“Whydidyouseefittomarryhim?”

    “Iwas,ofcourse,certaintobemarriedofftosomeone,”shesaid.Thiswastrue,anditsuctlyand

    cleverlyexplainedhermarriageinawa