This was Fix, one of the detectives who had been dispatched from England in search of the bank robber; it was his task to narrowly watch every passenger who arrived at Suez, and to follow up all who seemed to be suspicious characters, or bore a resemblance to the description of the criminal, which he had received two days before from the police headquarters at London.

The detective was evidently inspired by the hope of obtaining the splendid reward which would be the prize of success, and awaited with a feverish impatience, easy to understand, the arrival of the steamer Mongolia.
"So you say, consul," asked he for the twentieth time, "that this steamer is never behind time ?" "No, Mr.Fix," replied the consul.

"She was bespoken yesterday at Port Said, and the rest of the way is of no account to such a craft.

I repeat that the Mongolia has been in advance of the time required by the company's regulations, and gained the prize awarded for excess of speed." "Does she come directly from Brindisi ?" "Directly from Brindisi; she takes on the Indian mails there, and she left there Saturday at five p.m.

Have patience, Mr.Fix; she will not be late.