Part 16 (1/2)

Passepartout, delighted that the young wo to continue the journey with theait to obey his master's order

Chapter XIX

IN WHICH PassEPARTOUT TAKES A TOO GREAT INTEREST IN HIS MASTER, AND WHAT COMES OF IT

Hong Kong is an island which calish by the Treaty of Nankin, after the war of 1842; and the colonising genius of the English has created upon it an important city and an excellent port The island is situated at the mouth of the Canton River, and is separated by about sixty uese town of Macao, on the opposite coast Hong Kong has beaten Macao in the struggle for the Chinese trade, and now the greater part of the transportation of Chinese goods finds its depot at the forovern the appearance of a town in Kent or Surrey transferred by soic to the antipodes

Passepartout wandered, with his hands in his pockets, towards the Victoria port, gazing as he went at the curious palanquins and other roups of Chinese, japanese, and Europeans who passed to and fro in the streets Hong Kong seeapore, since, like thelish supremacy At the Victoria port he found a confused lish, French, A vessels, japanese and Chinese junks, se parterres Passepartout noticed in the crowd a number of the natives who see into a barber's to get shaved he learned that these ancient e they are permitted to wear yellohich is the I why, thought this very funny

On reaching the quay where they were to embark on the Carnatic, he was not astonished to find Fix walking up and down The detective seemed very much disturbed and disappointed

”This is bad,” entlemen of the Reform Club!” He accosted Fix with a rin The detective had, indeed, good reasons to inveigh against the bad luck which pursued him The warrant had not come! It was certainly on the way, but as certainly it could not now reach Hong Kong for several days; and, this being the last English territory on Mr Fogg's route, the robber would escape, unless he could e to detain him

”Well, Monsieur Fix,” said Passepartout, ”have you decided to go with us so far as Ah his set teeth

”Good!” exclai heartily ”I knew you could not persuade yourself to separate froe your berth”

They entered the steamer office and secured cabins for four persons

The clerk, as he gave them the tickets, infor been co, and not next , as had been announced

”That will suit o and let him know”

Fix now decided to make a bold move; he resolved to tell Passepartout all It see several days longer at Hong Kong He accordingly invited his coht his eye on the quay On entering, they found thee rooe camp-bed furnished with cushi+ons Several persons lay upon this bed in a deep sleep At the sed about the rooin, and brandy; s red clay pipes stuffed with little balls of opiuled with essence of rose From time to time one of the smokers, overcome with the narcotic, would slip under the table, whereupon the waiters, taking him by the head and feet, carried and laid him upon the bed The bed already supported twenty of these stupefied sots

Fix and Passepartout saw that they were in a s-house haunted by those wretched, cadaverous, idiotic creatures to who called opium, to the amount of one million four hundred thousand pounds--thousands devoted to one of the overnent laws It passed gradually from the rich, to whom it was at first exclusively reserved, to the lower classes, and then its ravages could not be arrested Opium is smoked everywhere, at all times, by men and women, in the Celestial Empire; and, once accustomed to it, the victi horrible bodily contortions and agonies A great sht pipes a day; but he dies in five years It was in one of these dens that Fix and Passepartout, in search of a friendly glass, found thely accepted Fix's invitation in the hope of returning the obligation at some future time

They ordered two bottles of port, to which the Frenchman did ample justice, whilst Fix observed him with close attention They chatted about the journey, and Passepartout was especiallyto continue it with theo and tell hisof the Carnatic

Fix caught him by the arm, and said, ”Wait a moment”

”What for, Mr Fix?”

”I want to have a serious talk with you”

”A serious talk!” cried Passepartout, drinking up the little wine that was left in the bottolass ”Well, we'll talk about it to-morrow; I haven't time now”

”Stay! What I have to say concerns your master”

Passepartout, at this, looked attentively at his coular expression He resumed his seat

”What is it that you have to say?”