The Portland daily press., 1873-07-02
CHAPTER XVII.

CHAPTER XVII.
After this the d tective and Passepartout
fire quently met, bt the agent was extremely
reserved. Once or twice he caught sight OF
Mr.. FO sg,w who lie NAMED alWa in the saloon,
companion of Madame Aouda in playil 9
whist his usual habit.
As for Passepartout, he began to mediate
seriously upon the singular chance, that had
again place Fix on his masters route 1t
was astonishing,-this gentleman, very amia-
BILE, very pleasing-they had first met at Suez,
he embarked on the Mongolia, went ashore
at Bombay, where he said he should remain,
they found him again upon the Rangoon on
the route for Hong Kong-in one word fol-
lowing ster by step the journey of Mr. Fogg.
1t was strange coincidence. Who then
was this Fix? He was ready to bet his san
dals The had carefully preserved them) that
FIX would leave Hong Kong at the same
time and probably by the same steamer as
they. Ii he had reflected an age he never
could have guessed the mission of the agent,
or imagine that his master was thief cut
ting round the worl He believed him rath-
er spy on his master, sent by the Reform
Club, to watch if he fulfilled the reuuistions
of the bet.
sit is evident 1t is evidentr' said the SER
want to himself. He IS a spy they have
placed at our heels! 1t is meant Monsieur
US oO houOidulC, 81 uOuCSt! 10 SDV MN J
All! Gentlemen of the Reform Club. it will
cost you DEAR"
Passepartout, delighted with his discovery.
decided nevertheless to say nothing to his
master, thinking he would be hurt by this
doubt OF his honor shown by his opponent.
but he promised himself to watch Fix on ali
occasions.
Wednesday the 3Oth of October in
the afternoon, the Rangoon entered the
nj Nal 900 NH soI,
1nsua OF this name from the island of Su-
matra. Little islands, mountainous, steep,yery
picturesque, concealed from tile sgnt ot the
passengers the grand island. The next day
at four o clock in the morning-tweve hour,
in advance of time-the steamer mt in IN
Singapore for coal. Phileas Fogg inscribed
this in bis column of gains-and this time,
landed with Ma anne Aouda, who had ex-
pressed desire for promenade. FIX fo..
lowed him, watching, unperceved. Passe-
partout laughed at the mannuvers of the
agent, and went to make his usual purchases.
The island Of Singapore is neither grand nor
imposing, but it Is delightful. 1t is park. laid
out In beautiful drives. An elegant carriage and
horses imported from New Zealand took Mr.
Fogg and Madame Aouda through clusters of
palm trees in brilliant foliage-cIove trees. the
cloves formed by the bud of the half open
hower-pepper bushes replaced the thorn
nedges OF European countries-sago trees
great ferns with their splendid branches, va
req tne aspect OF this tropical fora-while
nutmeg trees with their glossy leaves filed
the air with the subtle perfume.
After driving through the country for two
nours' Madame Aouda and her companion
returned to the city "a vast COL
iection of low fiat houses snr-
rounded by beautiful gardens where
glew plne apples: mangoes, and all the most
uehcious fruits OF the world At ten O'Clock
they returned to the steamer. Passenartont
awaited them on deck. At eleven tba Ran
goon cut her moorings, and a few hours later
tne passengers had lost sight of the high
mountains oil Malacca, whose forests shelter
the most magnificent tigers on the e.rtb.
l3O0 miles separated Singapore from Hong
hong-the voyage must be made in six davs'
10 enable Mr.. Fogg to take the boat for Yoke,
lama, which would leave the 9th of Novem-
per. Inc steamer was heavily loaded A
eaise NUMBER OF passengers had embarked at
3ing ON apore-Hindoos, Malays, Chinese and
Poituguese--the most of who n occuniea ,ha
second cabin. The weather, very be,u,ifnI
until tneu, changed with the los. ouartor -
tne moon. There was heavy sea. and the
wind blew stiff breeze, but fortunately from
the south east. The steamer, rugged as a brig.
Ia double top and fore sail-advanced ranjd.
~ under the double pressure of steam and
"-'N' nus OuCy ooucu upon SNORT
along the coasts of AMMAN and Cochin Chi,
ma. The weather was so nnfayorabIe that
they were obliged to take great precantion,
sometimes riding at anchor under very little
steam. 1t was loss of time which did not
appear to affect Mr., Fogg in any way. bnt
FasSepartout was extremely irritable.
But you are then in hurry to arrive at
ong Kong asked Fix of m one day.
~, In great harry" said Passepartont
DO you think Mr.. Fogg is in haste to take
the steamer for Yokohama?''
''In dreadful haste"
You believe then, now in this sinonTar
voyage round the world?'
.Adbso.utelyIAnd "A you Monsieur Fixp'
Il? do not believe itp'
"Actor!' replied passepartout winkinp his
eye. winning n''
This word set the agent musing. II dis
turbed him, he did not know Why! His
mission as detective, which no one but him
sell knew, how could Passepartout have
guessed IL Nevertheless in speaking thus,
he ..I InusG nave mad some secret meaning.
Look here, Monsieur Fix asked his
companion in malicious tone, .sshal We
nave the mlsfor. une Of losing you when we
arrive at Hong Kong?'' VIC
well, redlied Fix embarrassed; sI do
An SAID Passepartout, eff Won po with
us it will be great pleasure fo- me. Look
you, an agent of the peninsula company can
not stop on the route. You Went only
Bombay and here you are in China! Ame
lca Is not tar away-irom America to Europe
only stepr'
Fix. watched attentivey his companion
VINO showed him the most amiabIe face in
tne world, and he began to laugh with
him. Passepartout jestingly asked him If
his business was of profit to him?
Yes. and no." replied Fix "sometimes
bad and sometimes good. But YOU under.
stand do not travel at nv own exnense, ),
AS for that, l am sure of it," laughed
P Pissepartout. s"o0
The conversation ended. Fix went to his
capn IN reflective mood. In some way
the Frenchman had OWNED his business :s
detective, but had he informed his masters
Was he accomplice or not? What nart
would he play in the affair? Was it discov.
cred, al d consequently failure?
Inc agent passed some tro Iblesome bours
now believing all lost now hoping that Foeg
was Ignorant Of the situation in the emf
not kL owing what to do. He resolved to act
frankly with Passepartout. IF The warrant
was still delayed, he must tell all to Passepar-
tou. t II the servant was the accomplice of
he knew nothing OF the theft, his Interest
would lead him to abandon the thief Such
was the respective situation of these two
men; and above them Phieas Fope looked
down in MAJESTIC indifference.
ID accomplished nationally his orbit around
the world, without disturbing himself about
the smaller stars which grav'tated around
him. But in proximity to him, there was
using an astronomical expressicn-a star
which ought to have produced certain ner-
turbations in the heart of this gentleman
But no! the charms of Madame AOuda did
not operate, and the perturbations. if anv ex-
listed, would have been more difficult to calcu-
late than tpose of Uranus which led to the
discovery of Neptune.
CHAPTER XVIII.
During the last days of the VOYAGE the vea-