American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-10-01

day.
Remain" replied Fix. 1T con-
Germs your master.
Passepartout, at this phrase, looked
attentively at his questioner.
The expression of FINS face seemed
singular to him. He took a seat
again.
What have you to say to mc?" ho
asked.
Fix placed his hand upon his COM
panion's arm, and, lowering his voice,
he asked him:
"You have guessed who | was
"Parbleau - said Passepartout, smil-
ing
Then, am going to tell you every
thing"
Now that l know everything, my
friend. All that's pretty tough, But
60 on. But first let me tell you that
these gentlemen have put themselves
10 very useless expense.
Useless" said Fix. ''You speak
confidently. 1t may he seen that you
do not know the size of the sum-
But | do know it," said Passe-
partout. Twenty thousand poundsv'
Fifty-fivc thousandH' replied Fix,
rrasping the Frenchman's hand.
What" cried Passepartout. g Mon
sieur Fopg would have dared Fifty
five thousand pornds, Well, well! All
the more reason that | should not lose
an INSTANT he added, rising again
"Fifty-tve thousand pounds" re-
piled Fix. who forced Passepartout to
sit down again, after having ordered
decanter of brandy and if | succeed,
| get reward of two thousand pounds.
Do You wish five hundred of them on
condition that you hel me-"
Help your cried Passepartout.
whose eyes were open very wide.
Yes, help me To detain MIR. Fogg
in Hong Kong for few days"
Phewr' said Passepartout, ''what
are you saying? How, not satisfied with
having my master followed, with sus-
pecting his faithfuness. do these gem
tlemen wish to throw new obstacles in
his way? l am ashamed for them"
"Ah! what do you mean by that?"
asked Fix.
Il mean that it is simple indelicacy.
1t is about the same as stripping Mon
sieur Fogg and putting his money in
their pockets"
"Ah! that is the very thing we are
coming tor
But it is trapr' cried Passepartout
who was getting lively under the in
fluence of the brandy with which Fix
was plying him real trap! Cen
tlemen. Colleaguesr
Fix began to be puzzled.
Colleagues" cried Passepartout,
must know, Monsieur Fix, that my
master is an honest man, and that,
when he has made n bet, he intends to
win it fairly"
But who do you think 1 amp"
asked Fix, fastening his look upon
Passepartout.
"Parbleu! an agent of the members
of the Reform Club, with the mission to
interfere with my masters journey,
which is singularly humiliating. So,
although it has been some time already
since guessed your business, l have
taken good care not to disclose it to
Monsieur Fogg."
"He knows not hing?" asked Fix,
quickly.
Nothing" answered Passepartout,
emptying his glass once more.
The agent passed his hand over his
forehead. He hesitated before continu-
ing the conversation. What ought he
to- dop The error of Passepartout
seemed sincere, but it rendered his plan
ulore difficult. 1t was evident that this
young man was speaking with perfect
good faith, and that he was not his
masters accomplice which Fix had
feared.
WE'LL" he said to himself. .'since
he is not his accomplish. he will aid
me-"
s,1 Tbs ds s.fsi bad the ADVANTAGE
time to wait At any cost Fogg must
be arrested at Hong Kong.
Listen" said Fix, in an abrupt
tone, ''listen carefully to me. am not
what you think, that is, an agent of the
members of the Reform Club
Bah!' said Passepartout, looking at
him in jocose way.
Il am a police detective, charged
with mission by the Metropolitan
Government.
"You-a detectiver'
"Yes, and l will prove it," replied
Fix. ..Here is my commission"
And the agent. taking a paper from
his pocketbook. showed his companion
a commission signed by the Commits
sioner of the Central Police. Passepar-
tout stunned, unable TO articulate
word. looked ut Fix.
THE bet of Mr.. Fogg," continued
Fix, lis only pretext of which you
are the dupes, you and his colleagues
of the Reform Club, for he had an in
terest in assuring himself of your I'M
conscious completely
But why?" cried Passepartout-
'Listen. The 2sth of September,
ultimo. a robbery of fifty-iive thousand
pounds was committed at the Bank Of
England by an individual whose de-
scription they were able to obtain.
Now, look at this description, and it is
feature for feature that of Mr.. Fogg."
Humbugr' cried Passepartout,
striking the table with his clenched fist.
My master is the most honest man in
the world"
"How do you know?" replied Fix.
You are not even acquainted with
him. You entered his service the day
of his departure. and he left precipi-
lately under senseless pretext, with
out trunks, and carrying with him a
large sum in bank notes! And you
dare to maintain that he is an honest
man?''
..Yes, yesr' repeated the poor fellow.
mechanically.
"Do you wish, then, to be arrested
as his accomplish"
Passepartout dropped his head in his
hands. He could no longer be recog-
nized. He did not look at the detect
i've. Phileas Fogg, the deliverer Of
Aouda, the brave and generous man, a
robber! And yet how many presump-
tions there were against him. Passe-
partout tried to force back the suspi-
cions which would slip into his mind.
He would never believe in his masters
guilt.
ITO conclude, what do you want of
meP" said he to the detective, by a
strong effort.
..See here" replied Fix, 81 have