I was unaware of this when the situation surprised me. I fell for it and realized that fate had captured me. I tried to hide what I had, but I failed. I left as if I were bidding farewell to life.

There was only superficial affection between me and Sulayman. I never met Sulayman Pasha except when I was afraid of such a situation, but caution did not protect me from destiny.

When I entered Al-Ta'anshi's presence, I found him sitting on a 'anqareeb' (bed), surrounded by judges and advisors kneeling on the ground as usual. His sword was placed on his head.

He looked at me as if he were looking for something, and then he called out, "O Ibrahim Fawzi!" I replied, "Here I am, O Khalifa of the Mahdi, peace be upon him." He said, "Where is Sulayman?"

I replied, "I do not know, my master. I think he is at his home." He then called out in a loud voice, "Go to him and bring him to me." I took a few steps towards the door.

"Ibrahim Fawzi!" I returned to him. He said, "Didn't you have news of Sulayman?" I replied, "No." He said, "He escaped." I exclaimed in astonishment, "Escaped? Escaped?" He said, "What do you mean?"

I said, "O Khalifa of the Mahdi, peace be upon him, Sulayman is a Christian who has renounced Islam and returned to his Christian faith. God has shown him the truth, and he has witnessed the miracles of the Khalifa of the Mahdi, peace be upon him, in this world and the hereafter. Nevertheless, he does not intend to march this year, and he will inevitably fall into the hands of the Mahdi's followers."

"May God forgive me, O Khalifa of the Mahdi, peace be upon him. Sulayman drinks alcohol."