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Page 39
The panorama of the islands, as they steamed by them, was superb.
Vast forests of palms, arecs, bamboo, teakwood, of the gigantic mimosa,
and tree-like ferns covered the foreground, while behind, the graceful outlines
of the mountains were traced against the sky; and along the coasts swarmed
by thousands the precious swallows whose nests furnish a luxurious dish
to the tables of the Celestial Empire. The varied landscape afforded by
the Andaman Islands was soon passed, however, and the Rangoon rapidly
approached the Straits of Malacca, which gave access to the China seas.
What was detective Fix, so unluckily drawn on from country to country,
doing all this while? He had managed to embark on the Rangoon at Calcutta
without being seen by Passepartout, after leaving orders that,
if the warrant should arrive, it should be forwarded to him at Hong Kong;
and he hoped to conceal his presence to the end of the voyage.
It would have been difficult to explain why he was on board
without awakening Passepartout's suspicions, who thought him still at Bombay.
But necessity impelled him, nevertheless, to renew his acquaintance
with the worthy servant, as will be seen.
All the detective's hopes and wishes were now centred on Hong Kong;
for the steamer's stay at Singapore would be too brief to enable
him to take any steps there. The arrest must be made at Hong Kong,
or the robber would probably escape him for ever. Hong Kong was
the last English ground on which he would set foot; beyond, China,
Japan, America offered to Fogg an almost certain refuge.
If the warrant should at last make its appearance at Hong Kong,
Fix could arrest him and give him into the hands of the local police,
and there would be no further trouble. But beyond Hong Kong,
a simple warrant would be of no avail; an extradition warrant
would be necessary, and that would result in delays and obstacles,
of which the rascal would take advantage to elude justice.
Fix thought over these probabilities during the long hours
which he spent in his cabin, and kept repeating to himself,
"Now, either the warrant will be at Hong Kong, in which case
I shall arrest my man, or it will not be there; and this time
it is absolutely necessary that I should delay his departure.
I have failed at Bombay, and I have failed at Calcutta; if I fail
at Hong Kong, my reputation is lost: Cost what it may, I must succeed!
But how shall I prevent his departure, if that should turn out to be
my last resource?"
Fix made up his mind that, if worst came to worst, he would make
a confidant of Passepartout, and tell him what kind of a fellow
his master really was. That Passepartout was not Fogg's accomplice,
he was very certain. The servant, enlightened by his disclosure,
and afraid of being himself implicated in the crime, would doubtless
become an ally of the detective. But this method was a dangerous one,
only to be employed when everything else had failed. A word from
Passepartout to his master would ruin all. The detective was therefore
in a sore strait. But suddenly a new idea struck him. The presence
of Aouda on the Rangoon, in company with Phileas Fogg, gave him
new material for reflection.
Who was this woman? What combination of events had made her Fogg's
travelling companion? They had evidently met somewhere between Bombay
and Calcutta; but where? Had they met accidentally, or had Fogg gone
into the interior purposely in quest of this charming damsel?
Fix was fairly puzzled. He asked himself whether there had not
been a wicked elopement; and this idea so impressed itself
upon his mind that he determined to make use of the supposed intrigue.
Whether the young woman were married or not, he would be able to create
such difficulties for Mr. Fogg at Hong Kong that he could not escape
by paying any amount of money.
But could he even wait till they reached Hong Kong? Fogg had an
abominable way of jumping from one boat to another, and, before anything
could be effected, might get full under way again for Yokohama.
Fix decided that he must warn the English authorities, and signal
the Rangoon before her arrival. This was easy to do, since the steamer
stopped at Singapore, whence there is a telegraphic wire to Hong Kong.
He finally resolved, moreover, before acting more positively,
to question Passepartout. It would not be difficult to make him talk;
and, as there was no time to lose, Fix prepared to make himself known.
It was now the 30th of October, and on the following day the Rangoon
was due at Singapore.
Fix emerged from his cabin and went on deck. Passepartout was
promenading up and down in the forward part of the steamer.
The detective rushed forward with every appearance of extreme
surprise, and exclaimed, "You here, on the Rangoon?"
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