The man smiled. “I’m Ihsan Tantawi’s elder brother. You know, the advertising manager of the Sphinx.”

“Oh! I see. I thought I had seen your face before.” Then sadly he asked, “Are you going to defend me?”

“Yes. If you’ll allow me.”

Suddenly Saber cried out, “Elham!”

The lawyer smiled but did not say anything.

“What about your fee?”

“Just the necessary expenses.”

Was it possible? Her love paying for his funeral!

“I’m afraid you’ll be wasting your time, sir.”

“The word ‘hopeless’ does not exist in our dictionary.”

“But I killed two people, premeditated murder, confessed.”

“And so…”

“And Elham. Why?”

“You don’t have relatives, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have a friend.”

“Even after I confessed?”

“She accepts that.”

He wiped at his tears. “The second tear in my life.”

“There’s nothing wrong with tears. Let’s get down to business.”

“I confessed everything.”

“There are circumstances.”

“What circumstances could possibly help me?”

“Your upbringing, love, jealousy, your feelings for Elham!”

“That’ll only give the newspapers more fodder.”

“We shall not give up.”

“It’s all like a strange dream. I came from Alexandria to look for my father, and then strange things happened which led me to forget my original purpose and finally drove me to jail.” He sighed and continued: “And now I have forgotten everything else and only remember my original intentions. Well, there’s not much use thinking about this now.”

“I might use it in the defense. I will say that this was the first crime. A crime that took place before you were born.”

“But now I remember something. Elham called me one day saying she had news about my father.”

“What did she say?”

“I didn’t see her. I was busy seeking revenge!”

“Well, I assure you, she knows nothing about him.”

Saber shook his head, bewildered and in despair. “The crime coverage in the papers, that is the best possible advertisement. Maybe it will bring some results.”

“I’m sure that any concern shown by your father now will make no difference whatsoever.”

“Maybe if he turns up some miracle will happen.”

“How?”

“If he really is important and influential.”

“He cannot change the law.”

“Listen, sir, my mother wielded influence once, and she was able to change the law right under the noses of the lawmakers!”

“Well, please explain to me how your father could possibly help you.”

Saber hesitated, then: “Escape maybe.”

“Your imagination is running away with you! Stop thinking about these possibilities; it’ll only bring on heartache.”

“Well, in any case, sir, I thank you, and I’ll be at your disposal in any way you wish. As for my wild hopes, well, sir, as you said, ‘hopeless’ is not a word in my dictionary!”

The judge pronounced sentence. Hanging. Saber followed the trial closely and expected his sentence. Nevertheless, he was stunned.

“We still have a chance to appeal,” said the lawyer.