The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-08
cHAPTER XXX.

LIVELY INTEREST IN HIS MASTER, AND WHAT
FOLLOWS.
Hong Kong is only a small island Sc
cured to England by the treaty of Nan
king, after the war of 1912. In a few
years the colonizing genius of Great
Britain had established there an impor-
tant city, and created the port Victoria
This island is situated at the mouth of
the Canton River, and sixty miles only
separate it from the Portuguese city of
Macao, built on the other shore.
Passepartout. with his hands IN his
pockets, sauntered toward the port VIC
toria, looking at the. palanquins, the
eurtained carriages still in faver in the
Celestial Empire, and all the crowd of
Chinese. Japanese and Europeans huf-
rying along in the streets.
Passepartout arrived at Victoria port.
Walking along, he noticed a certain
number of natives dressed in yellow, all
of quite advanced age. Having gone
into Chinese BARRIERS to be shaved
"a la Chinese. he learned from Figaro
in the shop, who spoke pretty good En-
glish, that these ancient men were at
least eighty years old, and that at this
age they had the privilege of wearing
yellow, the Imperial color Passepar-
tout found this very funny, without
knowing exactly why.
His beard shaved, he repaired to the
wharf from which the Cafnatic would
leave, and there he perceived Fix walk
ing up and down, at which he was not
at all astonished. But the detective
showed upon his face the marks of great
disappointment.
''Goodr' said Passepartout to him.
self; that will be bad for the gentle
men of the Reform Clubn'
And he accosted Fix with his merry
smile, without seeming to notice the
vexed air of his companion.
Now, the detective had good reasons
to fret about the internal luck which
was pursuing him. No warrant! 1t
was evident that the warrant was run
ming after him, and that it could reach
him only if he stopped some days in
this city. New, Hong Kong being the
last English territory on the route,
this Mr.. Fogg would escape him finally
if he did not succeed in OBTAINING him
there.
well, Monsieur Fix. have you de-
ciGed to come with us as lar as Amerl-
ca?" asked Passepartout.
Yes" replied Fix, between his
closed teeth
"Well. them cried Passepartout,
shouting with laughter, Il knew very
well that you could not separate your
self from as. Come and engage your
berth, comep'
And both entered the ticket office
and engaged cabins for four persons.
But the clerk told them that the re-
pairs of the Carnatic being completed,
the steamer would leave at eight o clock
in the evening, and not the next morn
ing, as had been announced.
Very good" replied Passepartout,
THAT viii suit my master. | am going
to inform hin"
At this moment Fix took an extreme
step. He determined to tell Passepar-
tout everything. 1t wasthe only means,
perhaps, that he had of retaining
Phileas Fogg for few days in Hong
Kong.
Leaving the Office, Fix offered to
treat his companion in tavern. Passe-
partout had the time. He accepted Fix $
invitation.
A tavern opened on the quay Ii had
an inviting appearance. Both entered
1t was large room, finely decorated,
at the back of which was stretched a
camp bed, furnished with cushions.
| Upon this bed were lying certain num-
Der of sleepers.
Some thirty customers in the large
room occupied small tables of plated
rnshes. Some emptied pints of English
beer, ale or porter, others jugs of aleo-
holic liqnors, gin or brandy. Besides,
the most of them were smoking long,
rcdclay pipes, stuffed with little balls
of opium, mixed with essence of rose,
Then, from time to time, some smoker.
overcome, would fall down under the
table,. and the walters of the establish
ment taking him by the head and feet,
carried him on to the campbell, along
side Of another. Twenty of these were
laid aside in the last stage of british
ness.
Fix and Passepartout understood that
|
haunted by those wretched, stupefed,
lean, idiotic creatures, to whom mer-
camille England sells annually ten mill
ion four hundred thousand pounds
worth of the fatal drug called opium.
sSad millions are these, levied on one of
the most destructive Vices of human ma
ture.
The Chinese Government has tried
hard to remedy such an abuse by severe
laws, but in vain. From the rich class,
to whom the use of opium was at first
formally reserved, it has descended 10
the lower classes, and its rayages car
no longer be arrested. Opium is smoked
everywhere and always in the Middle
Empire. Men and women give them
selves up to this deplorable passion, and
when they are accustomed to inhaline
the fumes they can no longer do with.
out it, except by suffering terrible
cramps in thestomach.. "A great smoker
can smoke as many as eight pipes day
but he dies in five years.
Now, it was one of the numerou:
smoking houses of this kind, which
swarm even in Hong Kong. that FIJI
ana L aSsepartouI hau entered Win bnt
intention of refreshing themselves
Passepartout had no money, but he &C
cepted willingly the "politeness" o
his companion, ready to return it Il
him at the proper time and place.
They called for two bottles of port
to which the Frenchman did ful
justice, whilst Fix, more reserved, OBJ
served his companion with the closes
attention, They talked of one thing
and another, and especially of the ex
cellent idea that Fix had Of taking pas
sage on the Carnatic. The bottles nov
being empty, Passepartout rose to in
form his master that the steamer woult
leave several hours in advance of tn
time announced.
Fix detained him.
ssOne moment,n he said.
What do you wish, Monsieur Fixp'
g i have some serious matters to tall
to you about"
"Serious .mattersP'' cried Passepar
tout. emptying the few drops of win
remaining in the bottom of his glass
4 rrN