"Do you wish to be arrested as an accomplice?"
Passe-partout clutched his head with both hands; he was stupefied. He did not dare to look at the detective. Phileas Fogg a robber! This brave, generous man, the rescuer of Aouda, a thief? And yet circumstantial evidence was strong. Passe-partout did not wish to believe it. He could not believe in his master's guilt.
"Well, then, what do you want me to do?" he said, with an effort.
"Look here," said Fix: "I have tracked Mr. Fogg so far, but as yet I have not received a warrant, which I asked to be sent from London. You must help me to keep your master in Hong Kong."
"But I—"
"If so, I will share with you the reward of two thousand pounds promised by the bank."
"Never!" replied Passe-partout, who attempted to rise, but fell back utterly exhausted and stupefied.
"Mr. Fix," he stammered, "even if you have told the truth, supposing my master is the thief you are searching for—which I deny—I have been, I am still in his service; he is kind and generous to me, and I will never betray him for all the gold in the world."
"You refuse, then?"
"Absolutely."