第84部分(第2/7 页)

o　my　eyes。

“I　haven’t　seen　him；　neither　did　I　see　Shekure’s　flight　from　the　house。”

“How　did　you　know　they’d　left？”

“From　your　face。”

“Tell　me　everything；”　he　said　decisively。

Black　was　so　troubled　he　didn’t　understand　that　Esther—her　eye　eternally

at　the　window；　her　ear　eternally　to　the　ground—could　never　“tell　everything”

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if　she　wanted　to　continue　to　be　the　Esther　who　found　husbands　for　so　many

dreamy　maidens　and　knocked　on　the　doors　of　so　many　unhappy　homes。

“What　I’ve　heard；”　I　said；　“is　that　the　brother　of　Shekure’s　former　husband；

Hasan； visited your house”—it heartened him when I said “your house”—

“and told Shevket that his father was on his way home from war； that he

would arrive around midafternoon； and that if he didn’t find Shevket’s

mother and brother in their rightful home； he’d be very upset。 Shevket told

this to his mother； who acted cautiously； but couldn’t e to a decision。

Toward　midafternoon；　Shevket　left　the　house　to　be　with　his　Uncle　Hasan　and

his　grandfather。”

“Where　did　you　learn　these　things？”

“Hasn’t　Shekure　told　you　about　Hasan’s　schemes　over　the　last　two　years　to

get　her　back　to　his　house？　There　was　a　time　when　Hasan　sent　letters　to　Shekure

through　me。”

“Did　she　ever　respond　to　them？”

“I　know　all　the　varieties　of　women　in　Istanbul；”　I　said　proudly；　“there’s　no

one　who’s　as　bound　to　her　house；　her　husband　and　her　honor　as　Shekure　is。”

“But　I　am　her　husband　now。”

His voice bore that typically male uncertainty that always depressed me。

Amazingly；　to　whichever　side　Shekure　fled；　the　other　si