neighbors at the last minute； that’s all。 While you’re inviting them； say that

this was Enishte Effendi’s last wish…It won’t be a joyous wedding； but a

melancholy one。 If we don’t see ourselves through this affair； they’ll destroy

us；　and　they’ll　punish　you　as　well。　You　understand；　don’t　you？”

She nodded as she wept。 Mounting my white horse； I said I’d secure the

witnesses and return before long； that Shekure ought to be ready； that

hereafter；　I　would　be　master　of　the　house；　and　that　I　was　going　to　the　barber。　I

hadn’t　thought　through　any　of　this　beforehand。　As　I　spoke；　the　details　came　to

me；　and　just　as　I’d　felt　during　battles　from　time　to　time；　I　had　the　conviction

that　I　was　a　cherished　and　favored　servant　of　God　and　He　was　protecting　me；

thus； everything was going to turn out fine。 When you feel this trust； do

whatever es to mind； follow your intuition and your actions will prove

correct。

I　rode　four　blocks　toward　the　Golden　Horn　from　the　Yakutlar　neighborhood

to　find　the　black…bearded；　radiant…faced　preacher　of　the　mosque　in　Yasin　Pasha；

the adjacent neighborhood； broom in hand； he was shooing shameless dogs

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out　of　the　muddy　courtyard。　I　told　him　about　my　predicament。　By　the　will　of

God；　I　explained；　my　Enishte’s　time　was　upon　him；　and　according　to　his　last

wish；　I　was　to　marry　his　daughter；　who；　by　decision　of　the　üsküdar　judge；　had

just　been　granted　a　divorce　from　a　husband　lost　at　war。　The　preacher　objected

that by the dictates of Islamic law a divorced woman must wait a month

before remarrying；