“Every millionaire is well known. But he probably used different names. It’s more prudent in his line of work!”

“When did your friend receive the last letter from him?”

“You know, my friend is over ninety now. He doesn’t remember things too clearly. All he remembers is that he received letters from every corner of the globe.”

“But he surely knows everything about his family.”

“He has none in Egypt. His father was an immigrant from India. My friend knew his father, and through him, his only son, Sayed. The father died forty years ago, leaving his fortune to his sole heir. He made his fortune in spirits. He has no heirs in Egypt except those that may have resulted from his amorous adventures.”

“Like me.”

“Yes, like you, if he is really your father.”

“I don’t doubt it, now that you’ve told me of his habits.”

The lawyer smiled and said nothing.

“Yes, his habits are my habits. But while he pursues them around the world, here I am in jail awaiting the hangman.”

“But he didn’t kill.”

“Your old blind friend doesn’t know everything,” said Saber bitterly.

“In any case, he is a millionaire.”

“What’s more important is that the law cannot touch him.”

“But you know that you are poor and subject to the law.”

“And I also know who my father was.”

“And to what avail?”

“Yes, unfortunately. My mother knew him better than your old friend. She made her fortune through him and was able to defy the law; she was unfortunate.”

“But he never knew misfortune.”

“It was impossible that I should have accepted work as a pimp after I discovered my true origin.”

“Unfortunately, you did not live up to your origin.”

“I looked for him.”

“And forgot about him. You said so yourself.”

“Because of a woman. He would understand that.”

“But he is not your judge.”

“But he is the one who deserted me.”

“He might have thought that you were as capable as he, and didn’t have any need of him.”

“Had my mother not deserted him, maybe.”

“But she did desert him.”

“It’s not my fault.”

“That’s true.”

“That was the real reason for the crime.”

“No. That’s too farfetched.”

“But it’s a better reason than a chance meeting with someone like Karima.”

“The law is the law.”

Saber sighed deeply. “Maybe it would have been better if I denied that he’s my father.”

“That was my opinion. But I saw how eager you were to know anything about him.”

“And what did I learn? Nothing useful.”

The lawyer nodded.

“Everything is lost now; freedom, honor, peace of mind, Elham, Karima. Only the hangman’s rope remains,” he said with a deep sigh.

“We can still appeal,” said the lawyer. “There’s something else Mr. Borhan told me.”

“What?”

“One day, to his surprise, Reheimy came knocking on his door!”

“What! When?”

“Last October.”

“October!”

“Yes.”