te Quarters of the Enderun。
We passed through doors barred even to the Grand Viziers。 Like a child
who’d entered a fairy tale; I kept my eyes trained on the ground to avoid
ing face…to…face with the wonders and creatures that might confront me。 I
couldn’t even look at the chamber where the Sultan held audiences。 But my
gaze happened to fall momentarily on the walls of the harem near an ordinary
plane tree; one no different from other trees; and on a tall man in a caftan of
shimmering blue silk。 We passed among towering columns。 Finally; we
stopped before a portal; larger and more imposing than the rest; framed in
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ornate stalactite patterns。 At its threshold stood Treasury chiefs in glimmering
caftans; one of them was bending to open the lock。
Staring directly into our eyes; the Head Treasurer said: “You are truly blessed
by fortune; His Excellency Our Sultan has granted you permission to enter the
treasury of the Enderun。 There; you will examine books that no one else has
seen; you will gaze upon incredible pictures and pages of gold; and like
hunters; you will track the spoor of your prey; the murderer。 My Sultan bade
me remind you that good Master Osman has three days—one of which is now
over—until Thursday noon; in which to name the culprit in the miniaturists’
midst; failing that; the matter shall be turned over to the mander of the
Imperial Guard to be resolved by torture。”
First; they removed the cloth sheath around the padlock; sealed to ensure
no key entered the keyhole without permission。 The Doorkeeper of the
Treasury and the t