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Calcutta； but where？ Had they met accidentally； or had Fogg gone into the interior purposely in quest of this charming damsel？ Fix was fairly puzzled。 He asked himself whether there had not been a wicked elopement； and this idea so impressed itself upon his mind that he determined to make use of the supposed intrigue。 Whether the young woman were married or not； he would be able to create such difficulties for Mr Fogg at Hong Kong； that he could not escape by paying any amount of money。
But could he even wait till they reached Hong Kong？ Fogg had an abominable way of jumping from one boat to another； and； before anything could be effected； might get full under weigh again for Yokohama。
Fix decided that he must warn the English authorities； and Signal the ‘Rangoon' before her arrival。 This was easy to do； since the steamer stopped at Singapore； whence there is a telegraphic wire to Hong Kong。 He finally resolved； moreover； before acting more positively； to question Passepartout。 It would not be difficult to make him talk； and； as there was no time to lose； Fix prepared to make himself known。
It was now the 30th of October； and on the following day the ‘Rangoon' was due at Singapore。
Fix emerged from his cabin and went on deck。 Passepartout was promenading up and down in the forward part of the steamer。 The detective rushed forward with every appearance of extreme surprise； and exclaimed； ‘You here； on the 〃Rangoon〃？'
‘What； Monsieur Fix； are you on board？' returned the really astonished Passepartout； recognizing his crony of the ‘Mongolia'。 ‘Why； I left you at Bombay； and here you are； on the way to Hong Kong！ Are you going round the world too？'
‘No； no；' replied Fix； ‘I shall stop at Hong Kong … at least for some days。'
‘Hum！' said Passepartout； who seemed for an instant perplexed。 ‘But how is it I have not seen you on board since we left Calcutta？'
‘Oh； a trifle of seasickness； … I've been staying in my berth。 The Gulf of Bengal does not agree with me as well as the Indian Ocean。 And how is Mr Fogg？'
‘As well and as punctual as ever； not a day behind time！ But； Monsieur Fix； you don't know that we have a young lady with us。'
‘A young lady？' replied the detective； not seeming to comprehend what was said。
Passepartout thereupon recounted Aouda's history； the affair at the Bombay pagoda； the purchase of the elephant for two thousand pounds； the rescue； the arrest and sentence of the Calcutta court； and the restoration of Mr Fogg and himself to liberty on bail。 Fix； who was familiar with the last events； seemed to be equally ignorant of all that Passepartout related； and the latter was charmed to find so interested a listener。
‘But does your master propose to carry this young woman to Europe？'
‘Not at all。 We are simply going to place her under the protection of one of her relatives； a rich merchant at Hong Kong。'
‘Nothing to be done there；' said Fix to himself； concealing his disappointment。 ‘A glass of gin； Mr Passepartout？'
‘Willingly； Monsieur Fix。 We must at least have a friendly glass on board the 〃Rangoon〃。'
CHAPTER XVII
SHOWING WHAT HAPPENED ON THE VOYAGE FROM SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG。
The detective and Passepartout met often on deck after this interview； though Fix was reserved； and did not attempt to induce his companion to divulge any more facts concerning Mr Fogg。 He caught a glimpse of that mysterious gentleman once or twice； but Mr Fogg usually confined himself to the cabin； where he kept Aouda company； or according to his inveterate habit； took a hand at whist。
Passepartout began very seriously to conjecture what strange chance kept Fix still on the route that his master was pursuing。 It was really worth considering why this certainly very amiable and complacent person； whom he had first met at Suez； had then encountered on board the ‘Mongolia'； who disembarked at Bombay； which he announced as his destination； and now turned up so unexpectedly on the ‘Rangoon'； was following Mr Fogg's tracks step by step。 What was Fix's object？ Passepartout was ready to wager his Indian shoes … which he religiously preserved … that Fix would also leave Hong Kong at the same time with them； and probably on the same steamer。
Passepartout might have cudgelled his brain for a century without hitting upon the real object which the detective had in view。 He never could have imagined that Phileas Fogg was being tracked as a robber around the globe。 But as it is in human nature to attempt the solution of every mystery； Passepartout suddenly discovered an explanation of Fix's movements； which was in truth far from unreasonable。 Fix； he thought； could only be an agent of Mr Fogg's friends at the Reform Clubs sent to follow him up； and to ascertain that he really went round the world as had been agreed upon。
‘It's clear！' repeated the worthy servant to himself； proud of his shrewdness。 ‘He's a spy sent to keep us in view！ That isn't quite the thing； either； to be spying Mr Fogg； who is so honourable a man！ Ah； gentlemen of the Reform； this shall cost you dear！'
Passepartout； enchanted with his discovery； resolved to say nothing to his master； lest he should be justly offended at this mistrust on the part of his adversaries。 But he determined to chaff Fix； when he had the chance； with mysterious allusions； which； however； need not betray his real suspicions。
During the afternoon of Wednesday； October 30th； the ‘Rangoon' entered the Strait of Malacca； which separates the peninsula of that name from Sumatra。 The mountainous and craggy islets intercepted the beauties of this noble island from the view of the travellers。 The ‘Rangoon' weighed anchor at Singapore the next day at four a。m。； to receive coal； having gained half a day on the prescribed time of her arrival。 Phileas Fogg noted this gain in his journal； and then； accompanied by Aouda； who betrayed a desire for a walk on shore； disembarked。
Fix； who suspected Mr Fogg's every movement； followed them cautiously； without being himself perceived； while Passepartout； laughing in his sleeve at Fix's manoeuvres； went about his usual errands。
The island of Singapore is not imposing in aspect； for there are no mountains； yet its appearance is not without attractions。 It is a park checkered by pleasant highways and avenues。 A handsome carriage； drawn by a sleek pair of New Holland horses； carried Phileas Fogg and Aouda into the midst of rows of palms with brilliant foliage； and of clove…trees whereof the cloves form the heart of a half…open flower。 Pepper plants replaced the prickly hedges of European fields； sago…bushes； large ferns with gorgeous branches； varied the aspect of this tropical clime； while nutmeg…trees in full foliage filled the air with a penetrating perfume。 Agile and grinning bands of monkeys skipped about in the trees； nor were tigers wanting in the jungles。
After a drive of two hours through the country； Aouda and Mr Fogg returned to the town； which is a vast collection of heavy…looking； irregular houses； surrounded by charming gardens rich in tropical fruits and plants； and at ten o'clock they re…embarked； closely followed by the detective； who had kept them constantly in sight。
Passepartout； who had been purchasing several do