He was puzzled, and began to think that perhaps there had been an elopement. He was certain of it. This idea now took complete possession of Fix, and he began to think what advantage he could gain from the circumstance: whether the young lady was married or not, there was still the elopement; and he might make it so unpleasant for Mr. Fogg at Hong Kong that he would not be able to get away by paying money. But the _Rangoon_ had to get to Hong Kong first, and could he wait? for Fogg had an unpleasant habit of jumping from one steamer to another, and might be far away before anything had been settled. The thing to do, therefore, was to give notice to the English authorities, and to signal the _Rangoon_ before she arrived. This was not difficult, as the steamer stopped at Singapore, and he could telegraph thence to Hong Kong. In any case, before taking decisive action, he determined to question Passe-partout. He knew it was not difficult to make the lad talk, and Fix decided to make himself known. There was no time to lose, for the steamer would reach Singapore the following day. That afternoon, therefore. Fix left his cabin, and seeing Passe-partout on deck, the detective rushed towards him, exclaiming: "What, you on board the _Rangoon_?" "Mr. Fix, is it really you?" said Passe-partout, as he recognised his fellow voyager of the _Mongolia_. "Why, I left you at Bombay, and here you are on the way to Hong Kong. Are you also going round the world?" "No," replied Fix, "I think of stopping at Hong Kong for a few days, at any rate." "Ah!" said Passe-partout, "but how is it I have not seen you on board since we left Calcutta?" "The fact is I have not been very well, and obliged to stay below. The Bay of Bengal does not suit me as well as the Indian Ocean. And how is your master, Mr. Phileas Fogg?" "Oh, quite well, and as punctual to his time as ever; but Mr. Fix, you do not know that we have got a young lady with us." "A young lady?" repeated the detective, who pretended not to understand what was said. Passe-partout nodded, and immediately proceeded to give him the history of the business at the pagoda, the purchase of the elephant, the suttee, the rescue of Aouda, the judgment of the Calcutta court, and their release on bail. Fix, who was quite familiar with the last incidents, pretended to be ignorant of all, and Passe-partout was quite delighted to have such an interested listener. "But," said Fix, when his companion had ceased, "does your master wish to carry this young lady to Europe?" "By no means, Mr. Fix, by no means. We are simply going to Hong Kong, to place her under the care of a relative of hers, a rich merchant there." "Nothing to be done on that line," said the detective to himself, as he concealed his disappointment. "Come and have a glass of gin, monsieur." "With all my heart, Mr. Fix; the least we can do is to have a friendly glass to our meeting on board the _Rangoon_." CHAPTER XVII.