第85部分(第3/7 页)

ading the note； said； “Tell Black Effendi I can’t take the responsibility of

handing　over　my　daughter…in…law　without　my　son　being　present。”

“Which　son？”　I　said　for　the　sake　of　being　shrewish；　but　softly。

“Hasan；”　he　said。　Since　he　was　a　man　of　etiquette；　he　blushed。　“My　oldest

son　is　on　his　way　back　from　Persia；　there　are　witnesses。”

“Where’s Hasan？” I asked。 I ate two spoonfuls of the soup Shekure had

offered　me。

“He went to gather the clerks； porters and other men of the Customs

Office；”　he　said　in　the　childish　manner　of　decent　yet　dull　men　who　cannot　lie。

“After　what　the　Erzurumis　did　yesterday；　the　Janissaries　are　certain　to　be　on

the　streets　tonight。”

“We　didn’t　see　anything　of　the　sort；”　I　said　as　I　walked　toward　the　door。　“Is

this　all　you　have　to　say？”

I asked this question of the father…in…law to intimidate him； but Shekure

knew full well that I was really addressing her。 Was her head truly this

befuddled or was she hiding something； for example； was she awaiting the

return　of　Hasan　and　his　men？　Oddly；　I　sensed　that　I　liked　her　indecisiveness。

“We　don’t　want　Black；”　Shevket　said　confidently。　“And　make　this　your　last

visit；　fat　lady。”

“But then who’ll bring around the lace tablecloths； the handkerchiefs

embroidered with flowers and birds that your pretty mother likes； and your

favorite　red　shirt　cloth？”　I　said；　leaving　my　bundle　in　the　middle　of　the　room。

“Until I return； you can open it up and take a look； try on； alter and sew

whatever　you　like。”

I　was　saddened　as　I　left。　I’d　never　seen　Shek