iately proceeded to give him the
history of the business at the pagoda, the purchase of the elephant,
the suttee, the rescue of Aouda, the judgment of the Calcutta court,
and their release on bail. Fix, who was quite familiar with the last
incidents, pretended to be ignorant of all, and Passe-partout was
quite delighted to have such an interested listener.

"But," said Fix, when his companion had ceased, "does your master wish
to carry this young lady to Europe?"

"By no means, Mr. Fix, by no means. We are simply going to Hong Kong,
to place her under the care of a relative of hers, a rich merchant
there."

"Nothing to be done on that line," said the detective to himself, as
he concealed his disappointment. "Come and have a glass of gin,
monsieur."

"With all my heart, Mr. Fix; the least we can do is to have a friendly
glass to our meeting on board the _Rangoon_."

CHAPTER XVII.

What happened on the Voyage between Singapore and Hong Kong.

After that, Passe-partout and the detective met frequently, but the
latter was very reserved and did not attempt to pump his companion
respecting Mr. Fogg. He only encountered that gentleman once or twice,
for he kept very much in the cabin, attending on Mrs. Aouda, or
engaged in a game of whist.

As for Passe-partout, he began to meditate very seriously upon the
curious chance which had brought Mr. Fix once again on his master's
track, and it certainly was somewhat astonishing. How was it that this
amiable, good-natured gentleman, whom they had met first at Suez, and
on board the _Mongolia_, who had landed at Bombay, where he said he
was going to remain, was now on board the _Rangoon_ bound for Hong
Kong, and, in a word, following Mr. Fogg step by step--that was the
question? It certainly was a most extraordinary coincidence, and what
did Fix want? Passe-partout was ready to wager his Indian shoes, which
all this time he had carefully preserved, that this man Fix would
leave Hong Kong with them, and probably on board the same steamer.

If Passe-partout had worried his head for a hundred years, he never
would have hit upon the real object of the detective. It would never
have occurred to him that Phileas Fogg was being tracked round the
globe for a robbery. But as it is only human nature to find some
explanation for everything, this is how Passe-partout interpreted
Fix's unremitting attention, and after all it was not an unreasonable
conclusion to arrive at. I