hatis,seeingtheillustrationofthehorsenotasanillustration,butasatruehorse.”

    “Ifyoulookedatthisillustrationasifyouwerelookingatahorse,whatwouldyouseethere?”

    “Lookingatthesizeofthishorse,Icouldsaythatthiswasn’taponybut,judgingfromthelengthandcurveofitsneck,agoodracehorseandthattheflatnessofitsbaakeitsuitableftrips.FromitsdelicatelegswemightihatitwasagileandcleverlikeanArabian,butitsbodyistoolongandlargetobeoheelegaslegssuggestswhattheBukharanscholarFadlansaidofworthyhorsesinhisBookofEquihatwereittohappenuponariverit’deasilyjumpitwithoutbeingstartledandspooked.IknowbyheartthewonderfulthingswrittenaboutthechoicesthorsesintheBookofEquiranslatedsobeautifullybyourroyalveterinarianFuyuzi,andItellyouthateveryliestothechestnuthorsebeforeus:Agoodhorseshouldhaveaprettyfadtheeyesofagazelle;itsearsshouldbestraightasreedswithagooddistaweenthem;agoodhorseshouldhavesmallteeth,aroundedforeheadandslighteyebrows;itshouldbetall,long-haired,haveashortwaist,smallnose,smallshouldersandabroadflatback;itshouldbefull-thighed,long-necked,broadchested,withabroadrumpayihighs.Thebeastshouldbeproudaasaunters,itshouldmoveasthoughitweregreetingthoseoherside.”

    “That’sourchestnuthorseexactly,”Isaid,lookingattheimageofthehorseinastonishment.

    “We’vediscoveredourhorse,”saidMasterOsmanwiththesameironicsmile,“butunfortuhisdoesn’tdousanygoodwhenitestotheidentityoftheminiaturist,becauseIknowthatnominiaturistinhisrightmindwoulddepictahorseusingarealhorseasamodel.Myminiaturists,naturally,would