迪文小说

第91部分（第3页）

peace。　And　I　hadn’t　kept　quiet　because　Butterfly　would　otherwise　accuse　me　of

imitating　the　Europeans　or　because　he　was　relentlessly　striking　one　end　of　his

dagger　against　my　helmet　and　back；　supposedly　to　test　my　armor；　but　because

I　calculated　that　only　if　I　restrained　myself　and　won　over　Black　and　this　pretty…

eyed　oaf　could　we　deliver　ourselves　from　Olive’s　scheming。

Once　they　knew　they　wouldn’t　find　what　they　were　looking　for　here；　they

told　　me　　what　　they　　were　　after。　　There　　was　　a　　picture　　that　　the　　unspeakable

murderer　had　absconded　with…I　said　that　my　house　was　already　searched　for

the　　same　　reason；　　as　　a　　result；　　the　　wise　　murderer　　most　　certainly　　would’ve　　hid

that　picture　where　nobody　could　ever　find　it　（I　was　thinking　of　Olive）；　but　did

they　　heed　　my　　words？　　Black　　explained　　the　　horse　　drawn　　with　　clipped　　nostrils

and　how　the　three…day　period　Our　Sultan　had　granted　Master　Osman　was　well

nigh　　over。　　When　　I　　inquired　　further　　about　　the　　significance　　of　　the　　clipped

nostrils；　　Black　　told　　me；　　looking　　straight　　into　　my　　eyes；　　how　　Master　　Osman；

analyzing　them　as　a　clue；　linked　them　to　Olive；　although　he　suspected　me　even

more；　being　no　stranger　to　my　ambitions。

At　　first；　　it　　appeared　　they’d　　e　　here　　prepared　　to　　believe　　that　　I　　was　　the

murderer　　and　　to　　find　　proof　　of　　it；　　but　　in　　my　　opinion；　　this　　wasn’t　　the　　sole

reason　for　their　visit。　They’d　also　e　knocking　at　my　door　out　of　loneliness

and　desperation。　When　I　opened　the　door；　the　dagger　that　Butterfly　pointed　at

me　　shook　　in　　his　　hand。　　Not　　only　　were　　they　　terrified；　　thinking　　that　　the

despicable　murderer；　whose　identity　they　were　at　such　pains　to　uncover；　might

corner　them　in　the　darkness；　smiling　like　an　old　friend；　and　swiftly　cut　their

throats；　they　were　also　losing　sleep　for　fear　that　Master　Osman　might　conspire

with　Our　Sultan　and　the　Head　Treasurer　to　turn　them　over　to　the　torturer—

not　to　mention　the　mob　of　Erzurumis　roaming　the　streets；　which　demoralized

401

them。　In　short；　they　desired　my　friendship。　But　Master　Osman　had　instilled　in

them　the　opposite　notion。　It　was　my　present　obligation　to　show　them　sincerely

how　Master　Osman　was　mistaken；　which　is　what　they’d　hoped　for　deep　down

anyway。

Simply　declaring　that　the　great　master　was　mistaken　and　that　he’d　bee

senile　　would　　surely　　arouse　　Butterfly’s　　enmity。　　For　　in　　the　　watery　　eyes　　of　　the

handsome　illuminator；　whose　eyelashes　fluttered　like　the　insect　he　was　named

for　as　he　banged　upon　my　armor　with　his　dagger；　I　could　still　make　out　the

pale　fire　of　love　he　felt　for　the　great　master；　whose　favorite　he　had　been。　In　my

youth；　　the　　closeness　　of　　those　　two；　　master　　and　　apprentice；　　was　　enviously

ridiculed　by　the　others；　but　they　themselves　paid　no　mind；　they’d　stare　into