"I want to speak to you seriously."
"Seriously!" exclaimed Passe-partout. "Well, then, let us talk to-morrow, I have no time to-day."
"You had better wait," said Fix; "it concerns your master."
Passe-partout looked closely at his companion, and as the expression of his face was peculiar he sat down again.
"What have you got to say to me?" he said.
Fix placed his hand on his companion's arm, and said, in a low voice,
"You have guessed who I am, eh?"
"Rather," replied Passe-partout.
"Well, then, I am going to tell you everything."
"Yes, now that I know everything, my friend. That's pretty good. However, go on; but first let me tell you that those gentlemen have sent you on a wild-goose chase."
"It is evident that you do not know how large the sum in question is," said Fix.