第5部分(第2/7 页)

That night； when Elegant Effendi and I came here； the snow hadn’t yet

begun　to　fall。　We　could　hear　the　howling　of　mongrels　echo　in　the　distance。

21

“Pray；　for　what　reason　have　we　e　here？”　the　unfortunate　one　had　asked。

“What　do　you　plan　to　show　me　out　here　at　this　late　hour？”

“Just　ahead　lies　a　well；　twelve　paces　beyond　which　I’ve　buried　the　money

I’ve　been　saving　for　years；”　I　said。　“If　you　keep　everything　I’ve　explained　to　you

secret；　Enishte　Effendi　and　I　will　see　that　you　are　happily　rewarded。”

“Am　I　to　understand　that　you　admit　you　knew　what　you　were　doing　from

the　beginning？”　he　said　in　agitation。

“I　admit　it；”　I　lied　obligingly。

“You acknowledge the picture you’ve made is in fact a desecration； don’t

you？” he said innocently。 “It’s heresy； a sacrilege that no decent man would

have the gall to mit。 You’re going to burn in the pits of Hell。 Your

suffering　and　pain　will　never　diminish—and　you’ve　made　me　an　acplice。”

As　I　listened　to　him；　I　sensed　with　horror　how　his　words　had　such　strength

and　gravity　that；　willingly　or　not；　people　would　heed　them；　hoping　that　they

would prove true about miserable creatures other than themselves。 Many

rumors　like　this　about　Enishte　Effendi　had　begun　to　fly　due　to　the　secrecy　of

the　book　he　was　making　and　the　money　he　was　willing　to　pay—and　because

Master Osman； the Head Illuminator； despised him。 It occurred to me that

perhaps my brother gilder； Elegant； had with sly intent used these facts to

buttress　his　false　accusations。　To　what　degree　was　he　being　honest？

I had him repeat the claims