Summary

As soon as the news arrives that the sultan is calling for them to come to Edirne with their weapon, the two swing into high gear. The narrator suddenly realizes that Hoja had been preparing all winter for a final departure. The night before departure Hoja goes through everything in the house, including books, notebooks, half-finished treatises, and rough drafts, as if he does not expect to return. Although Hoja is optimistic about their weapon, he refers to it as their “last chance” (127). The sultan receives Hoja warmly; amidst rumors of war, the three of them ride horses, take excursions by boat, or watch the weapon practice its maneuvers. Hoja recites his tale of victory, their superiority over the enemy, and “the mysteries of our minds,” but the narrator finally gets sick of Hoja's “trumped-up tale of victory” (127).

One day Hoja takes his double...