barrassed, and the presence
of Mrs. Aouda on board gave him more food for thought. Who was this
woman? and how did it happen that she was in Fogg's society? They must
have met between Bombay and Calcutta, but at what place? Was it by
chance, or had he purposely gone to seek this charming woman? for she
was charming no doubt--Fix had seen as much in the court at Calcutta.

He was puzzled, and began to think that perhaps there had been an
elopement. He was certain of it. This idea now took complete
possession of Fix, and he began to think what advantage he could gain
from the circumstance: whether the young lady was married or not,
there was still the elopement; and he might make it so unpleasant for
Mr. Fogg at Hong Kong that he would not be able to get away by paying
money.

But the _Rangoon_ had to get to Hong Kong first, and could he wait?
for Fogg had an unpleasant habit of jumping from one steamer to
another, and might be far away before anything had been settled. The
thing to do, therefore, was to give notice to the English authorities,
and to signal the _Rangoon_ before she arrived. This was not
difficult, as the steamer stopped at Singapore, and he could telegraph
thence to Hong Kong.

In any case, before taking decisive action, he determined to question
Passe-partout. He knew it was not difficult to make the lad talk, and
Fix decided to make himself known. There was no time to lose, for the
steamer would reach Singapore the following day.

That afternoon, therefore. Fix left his cabin, and seeing
Passe-partout on deck, the detective rushed towards him, exclaiming:

"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 immed