But as the party and the drinks proceeded, the bitterness of politics vanished. Even Isa, who was a political creature above all else, abandoned himself wholeheartedly to his feelings of sheer joy. He knew that he was immaculately dressed, that there was a glow on his triangular face, and that his round eyes looked serene and limpid. The happiness he felt at the thought of marrying into a wealthy and influential family was a mere trifle compared with his feelings about his bride-to-be and his sincere hopes for a really pleasant life, for a tomorrow packed with happiness, a future which would hold the promise of real prestige. He forgot about the burning of Cairo, his dismissal from the ministry and transfer to the archives, the depressing apathy that had dampened popular enthusiasm, the indolence that seemed to be endemic in official quarters, and the gloomy melancholy that, even while the glories of spring were giving physical life an intoxicating stimulus, tinged the horizon.

In his present excited state, Isa did not have to stay in one spot any longer than suited him. He went over to Susan Hanem and they took a final look at the buffet together; everything seemed to be there and it all looked very colorful. Then he made for the green room and sat down with his closest friends, where he would have liked to stay until he was called for the announcement of the engagement. Ibrahim Khairat was looking into the red room. “There’s a whole lot of white flesh in there,” he said. “It looks beautiful!”

“Do you mean Al-Hajja,19 Isa’s mother?” Abbas Sadiq asked jokingly.

Isa looked at his mother in her expensive but modest gown and was happy that she looked more dignified than Hasan’s mother in spite of the latter’s beauty. Abbas Sadiq started to complain to him about Hasan. “Your cousin’s fiercer than the Cairo fire itself!” he said. Hasan gave a long laugh and Abbas carried on in a cautionary tone. “Get married yourself and you’ll be convinced that it isn’t all that bad to belong to a party.”

“Things are very confused at the moment,” Samir Abd al-Baqi interjected.

They all realized that it was politics he was talking about.

“There’s no question about that,” Isa replied.

“But they’re even more confused than is generally apparent,” said Samir emphatically.

“May the good Lord honor you!” Hasan said sarcastically.

“They say the King is going to hire mercenaries. Because he doesn’t trust anyone any longer!”

“Nothing shows more clearly how bad things are,” Abbas Sadiq commented with a laugh, “than what one of the Liberal Constitutionalists said. He declared he’d rather have the Wafd47 return to power than put up with the present chaotic state of affairs.”

“May God increase the confusion and chaos!” Hasan replied with great emphasis.