11 Passepartout Takes Too Great

CHAPTER 11 Passepartout Takes Too Great an Interest in Phileas Fogg, and What Comes of It Passepartout walked around Hong Kong with his hands in his pockets. The port had ships from all around the world: England,

France, the Americas, Holland, Japan, and China. When he reached the dock where he was to book the cabins on the Carnatic, he saw Fix there. He was not surprised. The detective himself did not look happy. His warrant still had not arrived. "Well, well, Fix," Passepartout said, "have you decided to join us on our journey to America?" "Yes," Fix said through gritted teeth. "Good!" Passepartout said. "I knew you would end up with us! Come, let's book our cabins." The men went into the steamer office, where the clerk told them that the ship was now fixed. It would be leaving that evening instead of tomorrow morning. "Wonderful!" Passepartout said. "I'll go tell the monsieur. He'll be very pleased." Fix decided that now was the right time to tell Passepartout everything. He knew it was

the only way to keep Phileas Fogg in Hong Kong until the warrant arrived. He asked the butler if he wanted to share a meal with him, and the two went into a small restaurant near the wharf. Once inside, the men found themselves in a large room filled with comfortable chairs and lots of cushions. They chatted for a while over dinner. When Passepartout finished his meal, he got up to leave. "Wait," Fix said. "I have something else I want to talk to you about." "It shall have to wait. I must tell monsieur about the steamer leaving early." "Stay! What I have to say concerns Mr. Fogg." Fix placed his hand on Passepartout's arm and said quietly, "You've guessed who I am?" Passepartout smiled. "I have indeed." "Then you must know that my job involves a lot of money," Fix said. "I'm willing to give

you some if you'll keep Mr. Fogg in Hong Kong. Don't tell him about the ship." "Not tell him! That's going too far, sir. I thought the members of the Reform Club were honest men." Fix looked at Passepartout strangely for a moment. "Who do you think I am?" "Why, you're a spy sent to follow us and make sure that Phileas makes an honest trip around the world. Maybe you've also been sent to interfere, but I won't let that happen," Passepartout said. "I haven't said anything to the monsieur yet, though." "So he knows nothing?" Fix said. "Oh, just a moment. I'll get us some cocoa." Fix got up and left the table. On his way to ask for the cocoa, he stopped to speak to a man in a dark corner of the room. Fix had asked this man to accompany him to the restaurant. He was an associate of the police department in Hong Kong. He knew he had

to do something. Phileas could not leave Hong Kong. Fix returned to the table with two mugs of cocoa. "Passepartout," Fix began, "I am afraid you are mistaken. I am not a member of the Reform Club. I am a detective from London. Your master is a robber. He has stolen a great deal of money from the Bank of England and I've been sent to get it back. You must help me keep him in Hong Kong until I can arrest him." Passepartout's mouth dropped wide open. "A robber!" he said. "He is not a robber! He is the most honorable of all men!" Fix told Passepartout that the description of the robber perfectly matched Phileas Fogg. The robber was a gentleman, just like Phileas Fogg. The robber had access to a lot of money, just like Phileas. He was of the right height and build, too—everything added up. Fix reminded the butler how little he knew

about his boss. After all, he had only started working for him on the day they left. "Now, will you help me keep him in Hong Kong?" Fix asked again. "I refuse. The monsieur is a fine gentleman. He did not commit this crime. I don't believe you. I am leaving now." "I wish you would change your mind." As Passepartout got up to leave, Fix nodded to the man from the back corner. Suddenly the man crept up behind Passepartout and knocked him on the head. Passepartout fell down to the ground! The man nodded to Fix before running out the door so he wouldn't be seen. "At last!" Fix said to himself as he picked up the butler and put him on a cushioned chair. "Mr. Fogg will not know that the steamer is leaving early. He'll be forced to stay in Hong Kong for another week!" With that, Fix left poor Passepartout