the　death　to　him　before　anyone　else。　To　this　end；　I　sought　out　an　upholsterer；　a

relative on my late father’s side； who’d worked in the tailors’ work stalls

opposite Coldfountain Gate ever since I was a child。 When I found him； I

kissed his mottled hand and explained imploringly that I needed to see the

Head Treasurer。 He had me wait among his balding apprentices who were

sewing curtains； doubled over the multicolored silk spread over their laps；

then；　he　had　me　follow　a　head　tailor’s　assistant　who；　I　learned；　was　going　to

the　palace　to　take　measurements。　When　we　climbed　up　to　the　Parade　Square

through　Coldfountain　Gate　I　knew　I’d　be　able　to　avoid　passing　the　workshop

opposite　the　Hagia　Sophia；　and　thus；　I　was　spared　from　announcing　the　crime

to　the　other　miniaturists。

244

The　Parade　Square　seemed　abustle　now；　whereas　it　usually　seemed　empty　to

me。　Though　there　wasn’t　a　single　person　at　the　Petitioner’s　Gate；　before　which

petitioners would line up on days when the Divan convened； nor anyone in

the vicinity of the granaries； it was as if I could hear a continuous din

emanating from the windows of the sick house； from the carpenters’

workshop； the bakery； the stables； the grooms with their horses before the

Second Gate （whose spires I looked upon with awe） and from among the

cypresses。 I attributed my sense of alarm to the fear of passing through the

Gate　of　Salutation；　or　Second　Gate；　which　I　would　soon　be　doing　for　the　first

time　in　my　life。

At the gate； I could neither focus my