“He might have an unlisted number, or perhaps he lives in the suburbs. In any case, an advertisement is the best means of finding him.”

“Please make it a small advertisement. Let it run daily for one week. Ask them to contact me at the Cairo Hotel by telephone or mail.”

“We must mention your name in the advertisement.”

He thought for a moment. “Saber Sayed.”

The man started filing the advertisement. Saber noticed that the girl had been following their conversation. No doubt the advertisement had aroused her curiosity. Her colleagues in the office called her Elham.

“Do you wish to state the purpose of the advertisement?” asked Tantawi.

“No.” After a brief moment he added, “I imagined that he would have a large number of acquaintances, but it seems that no one knows him.”

“Yours is a strange case indeed,” said Tantawi. “How can you be sure that whoever contacts you is not an impostor?”

“I’ve got evidence.”

Curiosity got the better of Elham. “This is really mysterious. Just like a movie.”

Saber smiled, delighted that she was taking an interest. “I wish it could be solved as easily as in the movies.”

“At least you know that he is a man of means. How did you know that?”

Saber was silent. Tantawi interjected sharply, “This sounds like an interrogation.”

What a charming girl. Perhaps she would take to him. She is a pleasant breeze compared with the roaring flame at the hotel. “Miss Elham, I’m a stranger in your city.”

“A stranger.”

“Yes, I’ve just arrived from Alexandria, and I must find this man. Now that I’ve seen you, I feel optimistic.”

She smiled, a warm, confident smile. He remembered the wine he used to drink in the Taverna with the soft strains of a violin in the background.

CHAPTER FOUR

He left the newspaper at the same time the employees departed. Thinking that perhaps he might get another glimpse of Elham, he stood for a while at the bus stop. The advertisement would take over his search for the moment. A cool breeze was blowing gently; he saw her chatting casually with a group of young people in front of the building. She took her leave from her friends and crossed into a side street and into a small cafeteria called Votre Coin. He followed her without hesitating, and seeing her sitting alone at a table, he walked in and made for the counter. He stopped at her table.

“What a pleasant coincidence! May I join you?”

“Please do,” she said without undue enthusiasm. The waiter had just brought her sandwiches and an orange juice. He ordered the same.

“I hope that I’m not a nuisance. But this is usually the way with strangers.”

“I welcome strangers.”

“Thank you. What I meant is that strangers are always overly keen to strike up friendships. It sometimes puts people off.”

“No. Not at all. You’ve done nothing to put me off.”