el； as the Sultan has decreed。 One of you has been very close to Enishte
Effendi； and has thus heard his recitations and knows about the miniaturists
who visited him at night and the story behind the book。 The other is a great
master who takes pride in knowing all the miniaturists of the workshop like
the back of his hand。 Within three days； if you fail to produce that swine along
with the missing page he stole—about which much gossip is flying—it is Our
Just Sultan’s express desire that you； my child Black Effendi； be the first to
undergo torture and interrogation。 Afterward； let there be no doubt； each of
the other master miniaturists will have his turn。”
I could detect no secret gestures or signs between these two old friends；
who’d worked together for years： Head Treasurer Haz？m Agha； who
missioned the work； and Head Illuminator Master Osman Effendi； who
received the funds and materials through him from the treasury。
“Everyone knows； whenever a crime is mitted within Our Sultan’s
wards； regiments and divisions； that the entire group is considered guilty until
one among them is identified and turned in。 A section that fails to name the
murderer in its midst goes down in the judicial records as a ”division of
murderers；“ including its officer or master； and is punished accordingly；” s