At the Fountain restaurant in the Four Seasons Hotel, near the institute, squab stuffed with fava beans and farro, an Egyptian grain, comes gilded with gold leaf[…].

At this early stage of the narrative, this manner of describing Mashallah's state of mind foreshadows a more radical loss of self, i.e., a journey that transforms him from an ordinary and insignificant bank guard to a visitor to the court of Harun...

What aunswere then will you make to him that shall frame out of Saynt Paul an argument to ouerthrow the whole force and estimacion of your Purgatory on this wise? Fe. Christ needeth no Purgatoriall Expiation. Ri, Christ is our Righteousnes, out of S. Paul. So. Ergo. Our Righteousnes needeth not any Purgatoriall Expiation.

“Are you up for a little afternoon delight tomorrow?” I lean close to Gloria and seductively bat my eyelashes, which makes her laugh.