Frawley stared at his chief in surprise.

“I’m to stick to him until I get him,” he said in wonder; “that’s all, isn’t it, sir?”

The Secretary, annoyed by his lack of imagination, essayed a final phrase.

“Inspector, this is my last word,” he said with a frown; “remember that you represent Her Majesty’s government—­you are Her Majesty’s government!  I have confidence in you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Frawley moved slowly to the door and with his hand on the knob hesitated.  The Secretary saw in the movement a reluctance to take the decisive step that must open before him the wide stretches of the world.

“After all, he must have a speck of imagination,” he thought, reassured.

“I beg pardon, sir.”

Frawley had turned in embarrassment.

“Well, Inspector, what can I do for you?”

“If you please, sir,” said Frawley, “I was just thinking—­after all, it has been a bit of a while since I’ve been home—­indeed, I should like it very much if I could take a good English mutton-chop and a musty ale at old Nell’s, sir.  I can still get the two o’clock express.”

“Granted!”

“If you’d prefer not, sir,” said Frawley, surprised at the vexation in his answer.

“Not at all—­take the two o’clock—­good day, good day!”

Inspector Frawley, sorely puzzled, shifted his balance, opened his mouth, then with a bob of his head answered hastily: 

“A—­good day, sir!”

II

Sam Greenfield, known as “Bucky,” age about 42, height about 5 feet 10 inches, weight between 145 and 150.  Hair mouse-colored, thinning out over forehead, parted in middle, showing scalp beneath; mustache would be lighter than hair—­if not dyed; usually clipped to about an inch.  Waxy complexion, light blue eyes a little close together, thin nose, a prominent dimple on left cheek—­may wear whiskers.  Laughs in low key.  Left ear lobe broken.  Slightly bowlegged.  While in conversation strokes chin.  When standing at a counter or bar goes through motions, as if jerking himself together, crowding his elbows slowly to his side for a moment, then, throwing back his head, jumps up from his heels.  When dreaming, attempts to bite mustache with lower lip.  When he sits in a chair places himself sidewise and hangs both arms over back.  In walking strikes back part of heel first, and is apt to waver from time to time.  Dresses neatly, carries hands in side-pockets only—­plays piano constantly, composing as he goes along.  During day smokes twenty to thirty cigarettes, cutting them in half for cigarette-holder and throwing them away after three or four whiffs.  After dinner invariably smokes one cigar.  Cut is good likeness.  Cut of signature is facsimile of his original writing.

With this overwhelming indictment against the liberty of the fugitive, to escape which Greenfield would have to change his temperament as well as his physical aspect, Inspector Frawley took the first steamer from New York to the Isthmus of Panama.