第14部分(第2/7 页)

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plain　disappeared。”

“How　could　anyone　quit　such　a　workshop　as　this；　such　a　joyous　hearth？”　I

said。

“Butterfly； Olive； Stork and Elegant； the four young masters whom I’ve

trained since they were apprentices； now work at home at Our Sultan’s

behest；”　said　Master　Osman。

This apparently came about so they could work more fortably on the

Book　of　Festivities　with　which　the　entire　workshop　was　involved。　This　time；　the

Sultan　hadn’t　arranged　for　a　special　workspace　for　His　master　miniaturists　in

the　palace　courtyard；　rather；　He　decreed　that　they　work　on　this　special　book　at

home。　When　it　occurred　to　me　that　this　order　was　probably　issued　for　the　sake

of　my　Enishte’s　book；　I　fell　silent。　To　what　degree　was　Master　Osman　making

insinuations？

“Nuri Effendi；” he called to a pale and hunched painter； “present Our

Master　Black　with　a　”survey‘　of　the　workshop！“

The “survey” was a regular ritual of Our Sultan’s bimonthly visits to the

miniaturists’　atelier　during　that　exciting　time　when　His　Excellency　had　intently

followed　what　transpired　at　the　workshop。　Under　the　auspices　of　Haz？m；　the

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Head　Treasurer；　Lokman；　the　Head　Poetic　Chronicler　and　Master　Osman；　the

Head Illuminator； Our Sultan would be apprised of which pages in which

books the masters were working on at any given moment： who did which

gilding； who colored which picture； and one by one； how the colorists； the

page rulers； the gilders and the master miniaturists； whose talent allowed

them to acplish miracles； were engaged。 It saddened me that