“Well, to be quite frank, I always suspect women.”

Saber looked at him sharply; he continued: “A beautiful young woman who stands to inherit a good-sized fortune.”

“I thought of the same thing,” said Saber, feeling his nerves almost twanging with fear. Did the investigator think the same? But Karima is silent, like death. The telephone does not ring. The rain, cold, and mud haven’t silenced the beggar’s singing. Mohamed el-Sawi called him, pointing to the telephone. He got up and moved toward it with heavy, tortured steps.

“Hello?”

“Saber?”

Never did he think that he would hear her voice while in such a state of despair. “Elham. How are you?”

“Am I disturbing you?”

“No. No. You’ll see for yourself I’ve been sick. I’ll wait for you today.”

He must get her out of his life, no matter how painful it is. He must get her out of the mud he is floundering in. They met. There she was, ignorant of everything, smiling reproachfully. How could he love so deeply and sincerely?

“Don’t you feel guilty?” she asked, smiling. He couldn’t answer. She took off her gloves and sat down.

“That cold must really have affected you.”

“It was a nasty bout with the flu.”

“And no one to take care of you?”

“No one at all.”

“Did you see a doctor?”

“No. I just let it run its course.”

“Good. You must drink a lot of juice. It’s good for you.”

They ate in silence, her eyes never leaving him.

“I thought many times of coming to visit you.”

“Thank God you didn’t,” he almost snapped.

She shrugged her shoulders, but didn’t pursue the matter further. Then, full of enthusiasm, she said, “I haven’t wasted a minute.”

Oh! The pain you cause, Elham! Why don’t you go away? “You’re an angel,” he said quietly.

“Don’t you believe me?” she chirped, her eyes dancing with joy. “Well, you’re about to start…we are about to start a new life. What do you say to that?”

He tried desperately to overcome his gloom. “I say that you are an angel, and me, I’m a crippled beast.”

“The capital you need,” she continued, undaunted, “is now available.”

“Capital?”

“Yes. All that I’ve saved for the future. Also some of the jewelry I never wear. It’s not a fortune, but it’s quite sufficient. I asked people in the know, and believe me, we’ll start out on solid ground.”

Are such miracles possible? In your wildest dreams you never thought this could happen. Money without crime, and love to top it all. Resurrect the old man and awaken from your nightmare! He sighed woefully. “Elham, the more you do for me, the more I’m convinced that I’m not worthy of you.”

“Stop trying to be a poet. There’s no time.”