Chapter 11 Passapartout Takes Too Great an Interest in Phileas Fogg and What Comes of It.
Passapartout 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, Passerpartout said, have you decided to join us on our journey to America?
Yes, Fix said through gritted teeth.
Good, Passerpartout 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 the monsieur about the steamer leaving early.
Stay.
What I have to say concerns Mr. Fogg.
Fix placed his hand on Passapartout's arm and said quietly, You've guessed who I am.
Passapartout 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.
Tell him.
That's going too far, sir.
I thought the members of the Reform Club were honest men.
Fix looked at Passapartoo strangely for a moment.
Who do you think I am?
Why you're a spy sent to follow us and make sure that Phineas makes an honest trip around the world.
Maybe you've also been sent to interfere, but I won't let that happen, Passapartout 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.
Passer-partout, 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.
Passapartout's mouth dropped wide open.
A robber, he said.
He's not a robber.
He's the most honorable of all men.
Fix told Passapattu 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 that they left Phileas.
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'm leaving now.
I wish you would change your mind.
As Passapartout got up to leave, Fix nodded to the man from the back corner.
Suddenly, the man crept up behind Passapartout 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 unconscious in the restaurant.
Phileas, Fogg and Aouda were walking around in Hong Kong buying supplies for the long voyage ahead of them.
Neither one knew that the Carnatic would be leaving that evening.
They spent the day shopping, had dinner, and then went back to their rooms to go to bed.
They didn't notice until the next morning that Passapartout was missing.
Phileas and Aouda had gone to the wharf by themselves.
They were hoping to meet the butler there, but when they arrived, they found Fix instead.
Were you not a passenger on the Rangoon?
I am a friend of your butler's, Fix said.
I was hoping to find him here.
I was aboard the Rangoon.
We are both looking for Passapartout.
He did not return to the hotel last night, Phileas replied.
That is strange indeed, Fix said.
It is, Aura agreed.
Do you think he's?
Fix said.
I'm afraid i have some bad news.
The carnatic was fixed yesterday and left early.
You've missed the boat.
It'll be a week before another steamer leaves for yokohama.
Phileas looked first at fix and then around the harbor.
He said quietly well, we'll just have to take another boat then.
Mr fix, would you please stay with miss aoda for a moment?
Fix nodded slowly and then watched as Phileas quickly walked away.
His heart sunk.
Another boat.
He thought he can't find another boat.
A moment stretched to a minute, which stretched to an hour.
Another hour passed before Phileas finally returned.
"'I've done it,' he said to them both.
"'I found a boat that will take us to Shanghai.
"'From there we can catch the Carnatic and go on to San Francisco.'
He turned to Fix.
I'm sure there's room if you would like to join us.
Putting on a false smile, Fix said, Thank you, sir.
Very well, Phileas said.
We leave in a half an hour.
But Passepartout, Aouda said, was become of him.
We need to find him.
We'll do everything we can before we go, Aouda, Phileas said.
Fix rushed off to pack his things so he could leave with them.
Meanwhile, Phileas and Aouda went to the police station to try to find Passapartout.
They left a sum of money with the police so they could search for Passapartout.
The boat Phileas had hired was called the Tonkadere.
Its captain was John Bunsby, and it had a crew of four hearty sailors.
When Aura and Filius went on board, they were surprised to find Fix already there.
I'm sorry the cabins are so small, Filius said, but at least we don't have to wait another week to carry on.
Fix bowed but didn't say anything.
He thought.
He is a gentleman.
I'll give him that.
It was now early November.
The travelers had been away for over thirty-six days.
Almost half the days were already gone.
The China seas were rough and the wind was strong.
The Tonkadere moved quickly.
Captain Bunsby knew he had a solid ship and did everything possible to make it go as fast as it could.
Phileas Fogg stood on deck and looked out at the ever-growing waves.
The boat rocked back and forth, but he never fell over.
He had very strong sea legs.
Great white sails flapped overhead.
Ahura sat in a chair, holding on for dear life.
Fix hid away in the cabin.
He was upset that he had to follow Phileas all the way to America, but he had made a promise to himself that he wouldn't give up.
He would do his duty to make sure he caught the robber.
Despite how well he was being treated on board the Tonkadere, Fix had to keep his mind on his task.
It didn't matter that Phileas acted like the perfect gentleman.
He was a criminal, and it was Fix's job to catch him.
Still, he was unhappy about the fact that Phileas had refused to take any of his money, either for food or for the boat trip.
When Fix asked, Phileas had flat out said that they wouldn't speak of it.
He said the journey was part of his general expense.
Well, Fix thought, he does have the money, being a, Bank robber and all.
The ship traveled over one hundred miles the first day.
Phileas was happy about its progress.
The captain was in great spirits.
He felt sure they would reach Shanghai in time for Phileas to catch the Carnatic.
But on day three, everything changed.
Dawn brought with it a dark and gloomy sky.
The captain stood on deck beside Phileas.
The two men looked at the great clouds forming behind the boat.
Sir, Captain Bunsby said, I think we're in for quite a squall.
I think so too, Phileas said, but the wind is blowing in the right direction to help us move forward.
The captain looked at his passenger.
So you wish for us to continue on this course?
Absolutely, Phileas said.
The captain took a good look at Phileas Fogg and calmly noted that he was, in fact, serious.
The boat rolled and shook.
It kept its course for Shanghai, even though it might have been safer to slow the boat down and stop at an earlier port.
Day turned to night and then night back to day as the storm raged around them.
There was not another boat in sight.
The Tonkadere was alone on the seas.
By noon on the second day, the storm finally slowed.
They had but six hours to reach their destination or risk the missing steamer.
All of a sudden, the wind died completely.
How the skilled hands of Bunsby and his crew kept the boat moving was a complete mystery to Phileas and his companions.
But move on they did.
They were a mere three miles from Shanghai when Phileas saw a long black funnel of steam ahead.
It was the Carnatic leaving for Yokohama, where it would stop before heading to San Francisco.
Signal her, Phileas Fogg said.
A small brass cannon sat on deck of the Tonkadere.
It was supposed to be used for distress calls.
The sailors loaded it up and lit the back.
Fire, Filius shouted.
The booming of the little cannon echoed in the air.
The cannon caught the attention of the steamer, which in turn changed course to meet the Tonkadere.
Filius Fogg and Aouda were able to board the Carnatic and were back on the right course.
Fix could not believe their luck.
