a brother named Hasan。 As I waited for my
husband’s return； I lived two years in the same house with him and my father…
in…law。 He fell in love with me。 Lately； he’s suspicious of what might be going
on。 He’s furious imagining that I might marry somebody else； you perhaps。 He
sent word declaring that he wants to take me back to their house by force。
They say that since I’m not a widow in the eyes of the judge； they’re going to
force me back there in the name of my husband。 They might raid our house at
any time。 My father doesn’t want me to be declared a widow by verdict of the
judge either。 If I am granted a divorce； he thinks I’ll find myself a new husband
and abandon him。 By returning home with my children； I brought him great
happiness in the loneliness he suffered after the death of my mother。 Would
you agree to live with us？”
“How do you mean？”
166
“If we were wed； would you live with my father； together with us？”
“I don’t know。”
“Think about this as soon as possible。 You don’t have much time； believe
me。 My father senses that some evil is ing our way； and I think he’s right。
If Hasan and his men raid our home with a handful of Janissaries and bring
my father before the judge； would you testify that you’d in fact seen my
husband’s corpse？ You’ve recently e from Persia； they would believe you。”
“I would testify； but I wasn’t the one who killed him。”
“All right； then。 Together with another witness； in order that I be declared a
widow； would you testify before the judge that you saw my husband’s bloody
corpse on the battlefield in Persia？”
“I didn’t