how of devilishness and lust rather than bewilderment。 As happy
yet somber lovers who emerged as if from a love poem were carried away by
the force of passion and wine in a garden reminiscent of Paradise； a malicious
lady servant spied on them with an envious finger in her red mouth。
Despite its being a standard image recorded in the notebooks and
memories of all miniaturists； the long finger sliding into a beautiful woman’s
mouth had a different elegance each time。
How much did these illustrations fort me？ As dusk fell； I went to
Master Osman and said the following：
“My dear master； when the portal is opened once again； with your
permission； I shall quit the Treasury。”
“How do you mean！” he said。 “We still have one night and one morning。
How quickly your eyes have had their fill of the greatest illustrations the world
has ever known！”
As he said this； he hadn’t turned his face away from the page before him；
yet the paleness in his pupils confirmed he was indeed gradually going blind。
“We’ve learned the secret of the horse’s nostrils；” I said confidently。
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“Ha！” he said。 “Yes！ The rest is up to Our Sultan and the Head Treasurer。
Perhaps they will pardon us all。”
Would he name Stork as the murderer？ I couldn’t even ask out of fear； for I
worried he wouldn’t allow me to leave。 Even worse； I had the recurring
thought that he might accuse me。
“The plume needle Bihzad used to blind himself is missing；” he said。
“In all probability the dwarf put it back in its place；” I said。 “The page before
you is so magnificent！”
His face lit up like