swallows which build the edible nests so prized in
China.

But the islands were soon passed, and the _Rangoon_ rapidly steamed
towards the Straits of Malacca, which give access to the Chinese Sea.

Now what is Fix doing all this time? Having left instructions for the
transmission of the warrant to Hong Kong, he had embarked on board the
_Rangoon_ without being perceived by Passe-partout, and was in hopes
to be able to keep out of sight until the steamer should have reached
her destination. In fact, it would be difficult to explain his
presence on board without awakening the suspicions of Passe-partout,
who thought him in Bombay. But fate obliged him to resume acquaintance
with the lad, as we shall see later.

All the aspirations and hopes of the detective were now centred in
Hong Kong, for the steamer would not stop at Singapore long enough for
him to do anything there. It was at Hong Kong that the arrest must be
made, or the thief would escape, and, so to speak, for ever.

Hong Kong, in fact, was English territory, but the last British
territory which they would see on the route. Beyond that, China,
Japan, and America would offer an almost secure asylum to Mr. Fogg. If
they should find the warrant of arrest at Hong Kong, Fix could hand
Fogg over to the local police, and have done with him. But after
leaving the island a simple warrant would not be sufficient; a warrant
of extradition would be necessary, which would give rise to delays of
all kinds, and of which the criminal might take advantage and escape;
so if he did not arrest him at Hong Kong, he might give up the idea
altogether.

"Now," said Fix to himself, "either the warrant will be at Hong Kong,
and I shall arrest my man, or it will not be there; and this time I
must delay his departure at any cost. I have failed both at Bombay and
Calcutta, and if I make a mess of it at Hong Kong, my reputation is
gone. I must succeed, at any cost; but what means shall I adopt to
stop him if the worst comes to the worst?"

Fix then, as a last resource, made up his mind to tell Passe-partout
everything, and what sort of a man his master was, for he was not his
accomplice evidently. Passe-partout would no doubt under those
circumstances assist him (Fix). But in any case this was a dangerous
expedient, and one not to be employed except under pressure. A hint
from Passe-partout to his master would upset the whole thing at once.

The detective, therefore, was very much em