appeared everywhere； matching the tastes of mon soldiers； boorish pashas
and spoiled princes。”
“How much would they go for？” asked Master Osman。
62
“I hear that the great Sadiki Bey illustrated a copy of Strange Creatures；
missioned by an Uzbek spahi cavalryman； for only forty gold pieces。 In the
tent of a vulgar pasha who was returning from his Eastern campaign to
Erzurum； I beheld an album consisting of lewd pictures including paintings by
the virtuoso Siyavush。 A few great masters who hadn’t abandoned illustrating
were making and selling individual pieces； which weren’t part of any story at
all。 By examining such single leaves； you couldn’t tell which scene or which
story it represented； rather； you would admire it for its own sake； for the
pleasure of beholding alone。 For example； you might ment； ”This is the
exact likeness of a horse； how beautiful；“ and you’d pay the artist on this basis。
Scenes of bat or fucking are quite mon。 The price for a bustling battle
has fallen to three hundred silver coins； and there are hardly any interested
clients。 To sell pieces on the cheap and to better lure a buyer； some simply
draw in black ink on nonsized； unfinished paper with nary a brushstroke of
color。”
“There was a gilder of mine who was content as content could be and
talented as talent would allow；” said Master Osman。 “He saw to his work with
such elegance that we referred to him as ”Elegant Effendi。“ But he has
abandoned us。 It’s been six days； and he’s not to be found anywhere。 He’