"What, you on board the Rangoon?"
"Mr. Fix, is it really you?" said Passe-partout, as he recognised his fellow voyager of the Mongolia. "Why, I left you at Bombay, and here you are on the way to Hong Kong. Are you also going round the world?"
"No," replied Fix, "I think of stopping at Hong Kong for a few days, at any rate."
"Ah!" said Passe-partout, "but how is it I have not seen you on board since we left Calcutta?"
"The fact is I have not been very well, and obliged to stay below. The Bay of Bengal does not suit me as well as the Indian Ocean. And how is your master, Mr. Phileas Fogg?"
"Oh, quite well, and as punctual to his time as ever; but Mr. Fix, you do not know that we have got a young lady with us."
"A young lady?" repeated the detective, who pretended not to understand what was said.
Passe-partout nodded, and immediately 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."