thewayonereared,thedelicatestaheand,ihird,adignityandpridematgthetentofabooks.Meanwhile,hespeculatedaboutwhichartisthadmadeeachpicture,andthepageboywho’dgonedoortodoortotheartists’housesfirmedwhatMasterOsmansaid.

    “MySn,don’tbesurprisedthatIknowmypainterslikethebayhand,”saidthemaster.“Whatbewildersmeishowohesemen,whomIindeedknowlikethebayhand,akeapletelyunfamiliarmark.Foreventheflawofamasterminiaturisthasitsins.”

    “Youmeantosay?”saidOurSultan.

    “YourExcellency,ProsperousSultanandRefugeoftheWorld,inmyopinion,thiscealedsignature,evidenthereirilsofthischestnuthorse,isnotsimplythemeaninglessandabsurdmistakeofapainter,butasignwhoserootsreatothedistantpasttootherpictures,otherteiques,otherstylesandperhapsevenotherhorses.Ifwewereallowedtoexamihemarvelouspagesofturies-oldbooksthatYoukeepunderlodkeyinthecellars,iros,andetsoftheIreasury,wemightbeabletoidentifyasteiqueseeasmistake;then,wecouldattributeittothebrushofohethreeminiaturists.”

    “Youwishtoereasury?”saidtheSultaninamazement.

    “Thatismywish,”saidmymaster.

    Thiswasarequestasbrazenasaskiertheharem.Justthen,IuoodthatinasmuchastheharemareasuryoccupiedthetwoprettiestspotsinthecourtyardofthePrivateParadiseofOurSultan’sPalace,theyalsooccupiedthetwodearestspotsinOurSulta.

    IwastryingtoreadwhatwouldhappenfromOurSultaifulface,whichIcouldnowlookuponwithoutfear,butHesuddenlyvanished.HadHebeeninsedandoffended?Wouldwe,oreventheminiaturistsasawhole,bepunishedonatofmymaster’simpudence?

    Lookingatt