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"You, a detective?" `
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"I will prove it. Here is my commission." `
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Passepartout was speechless with astonishment when Fix displayed `
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this document, the genuineness of which could not be doubted. `
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"Mr. Fogg's wager," resumed Fix, "is only a pretext, of which you `
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and the gentlemen of the Reform are dupes. He had a motive `
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for securing your innocent complicity." `
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"But why?" `
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"Listen. On the 28th of last September a robbery of fifty-five thousand pounds `
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was committed at the Bank of England by a person whose description `
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was fortunately secured. Here is his description; it answers exactly `
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to that of Mr. Phileas Fogg." `
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"What nonsense!" cried Passepartout, striking the table with his fist. `
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"My master is the most honourable of men!" `
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"How can you tell? You know scarcely anything about him. You went into `
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his service the day he came away; and he came away on a foolish pretext, `
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without trunks, and carrying a large amount in banknotes. And yet you `
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are bold enough to assert that he is an honest man!" `
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"Yes, yes," repeated the poor fellow, mechanically. `
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"Would you like to be arrested as his accomplice?" `
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Passepartout, overcome by what he had heard, held his head `
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between his hands, and did not dare to look at the detective. `
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Phileas Fogg, the saviour of Aouda, that brave and generous man, `
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a robber! And yet how many presumptions there were against him! `
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Passepartout essayed to reject the suspicions which forced themselves `
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upon his mind; he did not wish to believe that his master was guilty. `
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"Well, what do you want of me?" said he, at last, with an effort. `
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"See here," replied Fix; "I have tracked Mr. Fogg to this place, `
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but as yet I have failed to receive the warrant of arrest for which `
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I sent to London. You must help me to keep him here in Hong Kong--" `
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"I! But I--" `
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"I will share with you the two thousand pounds reward offered `
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by the Bank of England." `
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"Never!" replied Passepartout, who tried to rise, but fell back, `
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exhausted in mind and body. `
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"Mr. Fix," he stammered, "even should what you say be true-- `
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if my master is really the robber you are seeking for--which I deny-- `
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I have been, am, in his service; I have seen his generosity and goodness; `
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and I will never betray him--not for all the gold in the world. `
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I come from a village where they don't eat that kind of bread!" `
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"You refuse?" `
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"I refuse." `
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"Consider that I've said nothing," said Fix; "and let us drink." `
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"Yes; let us drink!" `
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Passepartout felt himself yielding more and more to the effects `
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of the liquor. Fix, seeing that he must, at all hazards, be separated `
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from his master, wished to entirely overcome him. Some pipes full of opium `
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lay upon the table. Fix slipped one into Passepartout's hand. `
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He took it, put it between his lips, lit it, drew several puffs, `
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and his head, becoming heavy under the influence of the narcotic, `
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fell upon the table. `
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"At last!" said Fix, seeing Passepartout unconscious. `
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"Mr. Fogg will not be informed of the Carnatic's departure; and, `
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if he is, he will have to go without this cursed Frenchman!" `
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And, after paying his bill, Fix left the tavern. `
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Chapter XX `
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IN WHICH FIX COMES FACE TO FACE WITH PHILEAS FOGG `
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While these events were passing at the opium-house, Mr. Fogg, `
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unconscious of the danger he was in of losing the steamer, `
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was quietly escorting Aouda about the streets of the English quarter, `
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making the necessary purchases for the long voyage before them. `
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It was all very well for an Englishman like Mr. Fogg to make the `
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tour of the world with a carpet-bag; a lady could not be expected `
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to travel comfortably under such conditions. He acquitted `
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his task with characteristic serenity, and invariably replied `
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to the remonstrances of his fair companion, who was confused `
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by his patience and generosity: `
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"It is in the interest of my journey--a part of my programme." `
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The purchases made, they returned to the hotel, where they `
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dined at a sumptuously served table-d'hote; after which Aouda, `
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shaking hands with her protector after the English fashion, `
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retired to her room for rest. Mr. Fogg absorbed himself throughout `
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the evening in the perusal of The Times and Illustrated London News. `
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Had he been capable of being astonished at anything, it would `
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have been not to see his servant return at bedtime. `
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But, knowing that the steamer was not to leave for Yokohama until `
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the next morning, he did not disturb himself about the matter. `
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When Passepartout did not appear the next morning to answer `
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his master's bell, Mr. Fogg, not betraying the least vexation, `
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contented himself with taking his carpet-bag, calling Aouda, `
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and sending for a palanquin. `
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It was then eight o'clock; at half-past nine, it being then high `
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tide, the Carnatic would leave the harbour. Mr. Fogg and Aouda `
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got into the palanquin, their luggage being brought after on a wheelbarrow, `
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and half an hour later stepped upon the quay whence they were to embark. `
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Mr. Fogg then learned that the Carnatic had sailed the evening before. `
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He had expected to find not only the steamer, but his domestic, `
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and was forced to give up both; but no sign of disappointment appeared `
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on his face, and he merely remarked to Aouda, "It is an accident, madam; `
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nothing more." `
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At this moment a man who had been observing him attentively approached. `
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It was Fix, who, bowing, addressed Mr. Fogg: "Were you not, like me, `
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sir, a passenger by the Rangoon, which arrived yesterday?" `
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"I was, sir," replied Mr. Fogg coldly. "But I have not the honour--" `
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"Pardon me; I thought I should find your servant here." `
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"Do you know where he is, sir?" asked Aouda anxiously. `
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"What!" responded Fix, feigning surprise. "Is he not with you?" `
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"No," said Aouda. "He has not made his appearance since yesterday. `
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Could he have gone on board the Carnatic without us?" `
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"Without you, madam?" answered the detective. "Excuse me, did you intend `
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to sail in the Carnatic?" `
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"Yes, sir." `
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"So did I, madam, and I am excessively disappointed. The Carnatic, `
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its repairs being completed, left Hong Kong twelve hours before `
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the stated time, without any notice being given; and we must now wait `
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a week for another steamer." `
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As he said "a week" Fix felt his heart leap for joy. Fogg detained `
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at Hong Kong for a week! There would be time for the warrant to arrive, `
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and fortune at last favoured the representative of the law. His horror `
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may be imagined when he heard Mr. Fogg say, in his placid voice, `
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"But there are other vessels besides the Carnatic, it seems to me, `
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in the harbour of Hong Kong." `
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And, offering his arm to Aouda, he directed his steps toward the docks `
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in search of some craft about to start. Fix, stupefied, followed; `
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it seemed as if he were attached to Mr. Fogg by an invisible thread. `
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Chance, however, appeared really to have abandoned the man it had hitherto `
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served so well. For three hours Phileas Fogg wandered about the docks, `
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with the determination, if necessary, to charter a vessel to carry him `
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to Yokohama; but he could only find vessels which were loading or unloading, `
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and which could not therefore set sail. Fix began to hope again. `
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But Mr. Fogg, far from being discouraged, was continuing his search, `
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resolved not to stop if he had to resort to Macao, when he was accosted `
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by a sailor on one of the wharves. `
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"Is your honour looking for a boat?" `
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"Have you a boat ready to sail?" `
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"Yes, your honour; a pilot-boat--No. 43--the best in the harbour." `
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"Does she go fast?" `
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"Between eight and nine knots the hour. Will you look at her?" `
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"Yes." `
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"Your honour will be satisfied with her. Is it for a sea excursion?" `
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"No; for a voyage." `
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"A voyage?" `
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"Yes, will you agree to take me to Yokohama?" `
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The sailor leaned on the railing, opened his eyes wide, and said, `
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"Is your honour joking?" `
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"No. I have missed the Carnatic, and I must get to Yokohama `
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by the 14th at the latest, to take the boat for San Francisco." `
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"I am sorry," said the sailor; "but it is impossible." `
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"I offer you a hundred pounds per day, and an additional `
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reward of two hundred pounds if I reach Yokohama in time." `
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