"What, is that necessary?"
"Indispensable."
"And where is the office?"
"There at the corner of the square," replied the detective pointing out a house two hundred paces off.
"Then I must go for my master, who will not be pleased to have his plans deranged!" Thereupon, the passenger bowed to Fix and returned aboard the steamer.
CHAPTER VII
WHICH SHOWS ONCE MORE THE USELESSNESS OF PASSPORTS IN POLICE MATTERS
The detective left the wharf and turned quickly towards the Consul's office. Immediately upon his pressing demand he was ushered into the presence of that official.
"Consul," he said, without any other preamble, "I have strong reasons for believing that our man has taken passage aboard the Mongolia." And Fix related what had passed between the servant and himself with reference to the passport.
"Well, Mr. Fix," replied the Consul, "I would not be sorry to see the face of this rogue. But perhaps he will not present himself at my office if he is what you suppose. A robber does not like to leave behind him the tracks of his passage, and besides the formality of passports is no longer obligatory."
"Consul," replied the detective, "if he is a shrewd man, as we think, he will come."
"To have his passport vised?"
"Yes. Passports never serve but to incommode honest people and to aid the flight of rogues. I warrant you that his will be all regular, but I hope certainly that you will not vise it."
"And why not? If his passport is regular I have no right to refuse my vise."
"But, Consul, I must retain this man until I have received from London a warrant of arrest."
"Ah, Mr. Fix, that is your business," replied the Consul, "but I—I cannot———"
The Consul did not finish his phrase. At this moment there was a knock at the door of his private office, and the
