assed treasury; I felt t I’d seen t well.

    e entered to a room t o as ts er artisans s. I inferred t tan’s craftsmen’s guilds: mace makers, boot makers, silversmiter velvet makers, ivory engravers, and luting outside treasurer’s door itions concerning payments, tion of materials and requests to enter tan’s forbidden private quarters to take measurements. I o discover no illuminators among them.

    e o one side and began to  as ing an error in accounts, request clarification; t by a polite response, from a locksmitter of tyard pigeons ecty requests of tisans.

    urn came, I entered treasurer’s small domed co find it occupied by a single clerk. I quickly explained t tant matter to be submitted to treasurer’s attention: A book project t Our Sultan  most importance to rigued by ions from my Enisiced t ty of tures, triking eccentricity, boggled ened to inform e’s name,  and ion, adding t  of tures. I spoke quickly,  if I returned from t reacan, I’d be accused of  Eniso t dreadful state myself.

    to apprise treasurer, I broke into a cold s. ould treasurer,  Our Sultan’s side, ed Enderun quarters of to see me? t t a messenger co t of tan  be: ired to one of treasurer in his company?

    Mucer, I  me put it taken so unao be afraid. Even so, I panicked onis in ter velvet maker standing at tepped inside and  once terrified; I t I’d be unable to speak.  only reasurer. rations t rested on a reading table aking t as if I ings. I kissed the hem of his robe.

    “My