The Thief and The Dogs (Chapter 3 & 4)

Novel: The Thief and The Dogs
Writer: Naguib Mahfouz
Edition: Anchor Books Edition, June 2008 Chapter 3

There is another person Said has to look for, his friend and mentor Rauf Ilwan. Rauf Ilwan is now the owner of a paper and not longer the thief he used to be. Said try to get in contact with Mr. Ilwan and tracks him down until the entrance of the villa where Rauf lives now. There is a brief meeting at the gate and Rauf friendly invited him to come in into the luxurious mansion. Said is astonished, he never expected to link his old friend with such a big palace. Once inside the house, they have a conversation and get the latest news about each other’s life.
Rauf wealthy man now and does not want Said to bring out their past since it might harm his new image. He offers Said a job at the paper and encourages him to start from zero and do not go back to burglary. This renewing opportunity is rejected by Said, who says good bye with a touch of irony:
“May God increase your good fortune" p-46

Chapter 4

Said is now complety perturbed, betrayed by his family and friends. ".....I'd find nothing but betrayal there: Nabawiyya disguised as Rauf, Rauf disguised as Nabawiyya, or Ilish Sidra in place of both-and betrayal would cry out to me that it was the lowest crime on earth." p-47. On this chapter Said unties all his hatred and begins with the revenge plan that will not stop until the end of the story. The first step towards revenge is to break into Rauf's house and steal. Rauf, who knows Said very well, was expecting him in the dark. As a matter of fact, he caught him red-handed and treated him as a real thief.

Y.D.