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. In fact, he made up his mind that Fix was an
agent sent after Mr. Fogg by the members of the Reform Club, to see
that the conditions of the wager were properly carried out.
"That's it," repeated Passe-partout to himself, very proud of his
shrewdness. "He is a spy these gentlemen have sent out. It is scarcely
a gentlemanly thing to do, Mr. Fogg is so honourable and
straightforward. Fancy sending a spy after us! Ah, gentlemen of the
Reform Club, this shall cost you dearly."
Passe-partout, quite delighted with the discovery, determined to say
nothing to his master on the subject, lest he should be very justly
offended at his opponents' distrust, but he determined to chaff Fix at
every opportunity without betraying himself.
On Wednesday, the 30th of October, the _Rangoon_ entered the Straits
of Malacca, which separate that peninsula from Sumatra, and at four
o'clock the next morning the _Rangoon_, having gained half a day in
advance of time, anchored at Singapore to coal.
Phileas Fogg having noted the gain in his book, went ashore
accompanied by Mrs. Aouda, who expressed a wish to land for a few
hours.
Fix, who was very suspicious of Fogg's movements, followed without
being noticed; and Passe-partout, who was secretly amused at the
detective's manoeuvres, went about his usual business.
The island of Singapore, though not grand or imposing, still has its
peculiar beauties. It is a park traversed by pleasant roads. A
well-appointed carriage took Phileas Fogg and Aouda through
palm-groves and clove-plantations, various tropical plants perfumed
the air, while troops of monkeys gambolled in the trees; the woods,
also, were not innocent of tigers, and to those travellers who were
astonished to learn why these terrible animals were not destroyed in
such a small island, the reply would be that they swam across from the
mainland.
After a couple of hours' drive, Mr. Fogg and Aouda returned to the
town and went on board ship again, all the time followed by the
detective. Passe-partout was awaiting them on deck; the brave fellow
had purchased some beautiful mangoes, and was enabled to offer them to
Mrs. Aouda, who received them gracefully.
At eleven o'clock the _Rangoon_ resumed her voyage and a few hours
later Malacca had sunk below the horizon. They had about thirteen
hundred miles to traverse to reach Hong Kong, and Phileas Fogg hoped
to get there in six days, so as to be able to catch the steamer for
Yokohama on the 6th of November.
The weather, which had hitherto been very fine, changed with the last
quarter of the moon. There was a high wind, fortunately favourable,
and a very heavy sea.
The captain set the sails at every opportunity, and the _Rangoon_,
under these circumstances, made rapid progress. But in very rough
weather extra precautions were necessary, and steam had to be reduced.
This delay did not appear to affect Phileas Fogg in the least, but it
worried Passe-partout tremendously. He swore at the captain, the
engineers, and the company, and consigned all concerned to a warmer
climate than Hong Kong. Perhaps the thought of the gas that was still
burning in his room in London may have had something to do with his
impatience.
"You seem in a great hurry to reach Hong Kong," said Fix to him one
day.
"I am," replied Passe-partout. "You think Mr. Fogg is anxious to catch
the steamer for Yokohama?"
"Very anxious indeed."
"You believe in this journey round the world, then?"
"Most decidedly; don't you?"
"Not a bit of it."
"You are a sly one," replied Passe-partout with a wink.
This remark rather disturbed Fix, without his knowing why. Could the
Frenchman have discovered who he was? He did not know what to do. But
how could Passe-partout have found out his real object? And yet in
speaking as he did, Passe-partout must certainly have had some
ulterior motive.
On a subsequent occasion the valet went still further, and said, half
maliciously:
"Well, Mr. Fix, shall we be so unfortunate as to lose the pleasure of
your society at Hong Kong?"
"Well," replied Fix, somewhat embarrassed, "I am not quite sure. You
see--"
"Ah," said Passe-partout, "if you would only come with us I should be
so delighted. An agent of the company cannot stop halfway, you know.
You were only going to Bombay, and here you are almost in China.
America is not far off, and from America to Europe is but a step."
Fix looked very hard at his companion, whose face was perfectly
innocent, and laughed too. But Passe-partout was in the humour for
quizzing, and asked him if he made much by his present business.
"Yes and no," replied Fix, without flinching. "We have our good and
bad times, but of course I do not travel at my own expense."
"Of that I am quite sure," said Passe-partout, laughing.
Fix then returned to his cabin, where he remained deep in thought.
Somehow or another the Frenchman had found him out, but had he told
his master? Was he his accomplice or not? And must the whole thing be
given up? The detective passed many hours considering the matter in
all its bearings, and was as undecided at the end as he had been at
the beginning.
But he retained his presence of mind, and resolved at length to deal
frankly with Passe-partout, if he could not arrest Fogg at Hong Kong.
Either the servant was an accomplice, knowing everything, and he would
fail; or the servant knew nothing, and then his interest would be to
quit the service of the criminal.
Such was the state of affairs, and meantime Phileas Fogg appeared
perfectly indifferent to everything. But nevertheless there was a
disturbing cause not far off, which might be able to produce an
influence on his heart; but no, Mrs. Aouda's charms had no effect, to
the great surprise of Passe-partout.
Yes, it certainly was a matter of astonishment to that worthy man, who
every day read the lady's gratitude to his master in Mrs. Aouda's
eyes. Phileas Fogg must certainly be heartless; brave he was no doubt,
but sympathetic, no. There was no proof that the incidents of the
journey had wakened any feelings in his breast, while Passe-partout
was continually indulging in reverie.
One day he was contemplating the working of the machinery, when a
pitch of the vessel threw the screw out of the water. The steam roared
through the valves, and Passe-partout exclaimed, indignantly: "The
escape valves are not sufficiently charged! We make no way! That is
English all over. Ah! if this were only an American ship--we might
blow up, perhaps, but at any rate we should go quicker meantime."