Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.VII-XIII
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`
` Chapter XIX `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TAKES A TOO GREAT INTEREST IN HIS MASTER, `
` AND WHAT COMES OF IT `
` `
` Hong Kong is an island which came into the possession of the `
` English 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 miles `
` from the Portuguese 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 former place. Docks, hospitals, wharves, `
` a Gothic cathedral, a government house, macadamised streets, `
` give to Hong Kong the appearance of a town in Kent or Surrey `
` transferred by some strange magic 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 modes of conveyance, and the groups of Chinese, Japanese, `
` and Europeans who passed to and fro in the streets. Hong Kong seemed `
` to him not unlike Bombay, Calcutta, and Singapore, since, like them, `
` it betrayed everywhere the evidence of English supremacy. `
` At the Victoria port he found a confused mass of ships of all nations: `
` English, French, American, and Dutch, men-of-war and trading vessels, `
` Japanese and Chinese junks, sempas, tankas, and flower-boats, `
` which formed so many floating parterres. Passepartout noticed `
` in the crowd a number of the natives who seemed very old `
` and were dressed in yellow. On going into a barber's `
` to get shaved he learned that these ancient men were all `
` at least eighty years old, at which age they are permitted `
` to wear yellow, which is the Imperial colour. Passepartout, `
` without exactly knowing 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," muttered Passepartout, "for the gentlemen of `
` the Reform Club!" He accosted Fix with a merry smile, as if he `
` had not perceived that gentleman's chagrin. 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 manage to detain him. `
` `
` "Well, Monsieur Fix," said Passepartout, "have you decided to go with us `
` so far as America?" `
` `
` "Yes," returned Fix, through his set teeth. `
` `
` "Good!" exclaimed Passepartout, laughing heartily. `
` "I knew you could not persuade yourself to separate from us. `
` Come and engage your berth." `
` `
` They entered the steamer office and secured cabins for four persons. `
` The clerk, as he gave them the tickets, informed them that, `
` the repairs on the Carnatic having been completed, the steamer `
` would leave that very evening, and not next morning, as had been announced. `
` `
` "That will suit my master all the better," said Passepartout. `
` "I will go and let him know." `
` `
` Fix now decided to make a bold move; he resolved to tell Passepartout all. `
` It seemed to be the only possible means of keeping Phileas Fogg several days `
` longer at Hong Kong. He accordingly invited his companion into a tavern `
` which caught his eye on the quay. On entering, they found themselves `
` in a large room handsomely decorated, at the end of which was a large `
` camp-bed furnished with cushions. Several persons lay upon this bed `
` in a deep sleep. At the small tables which were arranged about the room `
` some thirty customers were drinking English beer, porter, gin, and brandy; `
` smoking, the while, long red clay pipes stuffed with little balls of opium `
` mingled 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 smoking-house haunted `
` by those wretched, cadaverous, idiotic creatures to whom the English `
` merchants sell every year the miserable drug called opium, `
` to the amount of one million four hundred thousand pounds-- `
` thousands devoted to one of the most despicable vices `
` which afflict humanity! The Chinese government has in vain `
` attempted to deal with the evil by stringent 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 victims `
` cannot dispense with it, except by suffering horrible bodily contortions `
` and agonies. A great smoker can smoke as many as eight 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 themselves. `
` Passepartout had no money, but willingly 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 especially merry at the idea that Fix was going to `
` continue it with them. When the bottles were empty, however, `
` he rose to go and tell his master of the change in the time `
` of the sailing of 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 bottom of his glass. "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 companion. `
` Fix's face seemed to have a singular expression. He resumed his seat. `
` `
` "What is it that you have to say?" `
` `
` Fix placed his hand upon Passepartout's arm, and, `
` lowering his voice, said, "You have guessed who I am?" `
` `
` "Parbleu!" said Passepartout, smiling. `
` `
` "Then I'm going to tell you everything--" `
` `
` "Now that I know everything, my friend! Ah! that's very good. `
` But go on, go on. First, though, let me tell you that those `
` gentlemen have put themselves to a useless expense." `
` `
` "Useless!" said Fix. "You speak confidently. It's clear that `
` you don't know how large the sum is." `
` `
` "Of course I do," returned Passepartout. "Twenty thousand pounds." `
` `
` "Fifty-five thousand!" answered Fix, pressing his companion's hand. `
` `
` "What!" cried the Frenchman. "Has Monsieur Fogg dared-- `
` fifty-five thousand pounds! Well, there's all the more reason `
` for not losing an instant," he continued, getting up hastily. `
` `
` Fix pushed Passepartout back in his chair, and resumed: `
` "Fifty-five thousand pounds; and if I succeed, I get two thousand pounds. `
` If you'll help me, I'll let you have five hundred of them." `
` `
` "Help you?" cried Passepartout, whose eyes were standing wide open. `
` `
` "Yes; help me keep Mr. Fogg here for two or three days." `
` `
` "Why, what are you saying? Those gentlemen are not satisfied `
` with following my master and suspecting his honour, but they must `
` try to put obstacles in his way! I blush for them!" `
` `
` "What do you mean?" `
` `
` "I mean that it is a piece of shameful trickery. They might `
` as well waylay Mr. Fogg and put his money in their pockets!" `
` `
` "That's just what we count on doing." `
` `
` "It's a conspiracy, then," cried Passepartout, who became more `
` and more excited as the liquor mounted in his head, for he drank `
` without perceiving it. "A real conspiracy! And gentlemen, too. Bah!" `
` `
` Fix began to be puzzled. `
` `
` "Members of the Reform Club!" continued Passepartout. "You must know, `
` Monsieur Fix, that my master is an honest man, and that, `
` when he makes a wager, he tries to win it fairly!" `
` `
` "But who do you think I am?" asked Fix, looking at him intently. `
` `
` "Parbleu! An agent of the members of the Reform Club, sent out here `
` to interrupt my master's journey. But, though I found you out some time ago, `
` I've taken good care to say nothing about it to Mr. Fogg." `
` `
` "He knows nothing, then?" `
` `
` "Nothing," replied Passepartout, again emptying his glass. `
` `
` The detective passed his hand across his forehead, hesitating before `
` he spoke again. What should he do? Passepartout's mistake seemed sincere, `
` but it made his design more difficult. It was evident that the servant `
` was not the master's accomplice, as Fix had been inclined to suspect. `
` `
` "Well," said the detective to himself, "as he is not an accomplice, `
` he will help me." `
` `
` He had no time to lose: Fogg must be detained at Hong Kong, `
` so he resolved to make a clean breast of it. `
` `
` "Listen to me," said Fix abruptly. "I am not, as you think, `
` an agent of the members of the Reform Club--" `
` `
` "Bah!" retorted Passepartout, with an air of raillery. `
` `
` "I am a police detective, sent out here by the London office." `
` `
`
` Chapter XIX `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TAKES A TOO GREAT INTEREST IN HIS MASTER, `
` AND WHAT COMES OF IT `
` `
` Hong Kong is an island which came into the possession of the `
` English 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 miles `
` from the Portuguese 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 former place. Docks, hospitals, wharves, `
` a Gothic cathedral, a government house, macadamised streets, `
` give to Hong Kong the appearance of a town in Kent or Surrey `
` transferred by some strange magic 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 modes of conveyance, and the groups of Chinese, Japanese, `
` and Europeans who passed to and fro in the streets. Hong Kong seemed `
` to him not unlike Bombay, Calcutta, and Singapore, since, like them, `
` it betrayed everywhere the evidence of English supremacy. `
` At the Victoria port he found a confused mass of ships of all nations: `
` English, French, American, and Dutch, men-of-war and trading vessels, `
` Japanese and Chinese junks, sempas, tankas, and flower-boats, `
` which formed so many floating parterres. Passepartout noticed `
` in the crowd a number of the natives who seemed very old `
` and were dressed in yellow. On going into a barber's `
` to get shaved he learned that these ancient men were all `
` at least eighty years old, at which age they are permitted `
` to wear yellow, which is the Imperial colour. Passepartout, `
` without exactly knowing 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," muttered Passepartout, "for the gentlemen of `
` the Reform Club!" He accosted Fix with a merry smile, as if he `
` had not perceived that gentleman's chagrin. 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 manage to detain him. `
` `
` "Well, Monsieur Fix," said Passepartout, "have you decided to go with us `
` so far as America?" `
` `
` "Yes," returned Fix, through his set teeth. `
` `
` "Good!" exclaimed Passepartout, laughing heartily. `
` "I knew you could not persuade yourself to separate from us. `
` Come and engage your berth." `
` `
` They entered the steamer office and secured cabins for four persons. `
` The clerk, as he gave them the tickets, informed them that, `
` the repairs on the Carnatic having been completed, the steamer `
` would leave that very evening, and not next morning, as had been announced. `
` `
` "That will suit my master all the better," said Passepartout. `
` "I will go and let him know." `
` `
` Fix now decided to make a bold move; he resolved to tell Passepartout all. `
` It seemed to be the only possible means of keeping Phileas Fogg several days `
` longer at Hong Kong. He accordingly invited his companion into a tavern `
` which caught his eye on the quay. On entering, they found themselves `
` in a large room handsomely decorated, at the end of which was a large `
` camp-bed furnished with cushions. Several persons lay upon this bed `
` in a deep sleep. At the small tables which were arranged about the room `
` some thirty customers were drinking English beer, porter, gin, and brandy; `
` smoking, the while, long red clay pipes stuffed with little balls of opium `
` mingled 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 smoking-house haunted `
` by those wretched, cadaverous, idiotic creatures to whom the English `
` merchants sell every year the miserable drug called opium, `
` to the amount of one million four hundred thousand pounds-- `
` thousands devoted to one of the most despicable vices `
` which afflict humanity! The Chinese government has in vain `
` attempted to deal with the evil by stringent 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 victims `
` cannot dispense with it, except by suffering horrible bodily contortions `
` and agonies. A great smoker can smoke as many as eight 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 themselves. `
` Passepartout had no money, but willingly 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 especially merry at the idea that Fix was going to `
` continue it with them. When the bottles were empty, however, `
` he rose to go and tell his master of the change in the time `
` of the sailing of 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 bottom of his glass. "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 companion. `
` Fix's face seemed to have a singular expression. He resumed his seat. `
` `
` "What is it that you have to say?" `
` `
` Fix placed his hand upon Passepartout's arm, and, `
` lowering his voice, said, "You have guessed who I am?" `
` `
` "Parbleu!" said Passepartout, smiling. `
` `
` "Then I'm going to tell you everything--" `
` `
` "Now that I know everything, my friend! Ah! that's very good. `
` But go on, go on. First, though, let me tell you that those `
` gentlemen have put themselves to a useless expense." `
` `
` "Useless!" said Fix. "You speak confidently. It's clear that `
` you don't know how large the sum is." `
` `
` "Of course I do," returned Passepartout. "Twenty thousand pounds." `
` `
` "Fifty-five thousand!" answered Fix, pressing his companion's hand. `
` `
` "What!" cried the Frenchman. "Has Monsieur Fogg dared-- `
` fifty-five thousand pounds! Well, there's all the more reason `
` for not losing an instant," he continued, getting up hastily. `
` `
` Fix pushed Passepartout back in his chair, and resumed: `
` "Fifty-five thousand pounds; and if I succeed, I get two thousand pounds. `
` If you'll help me, I'll let you have five hundred of them." `
` `
` "Help you?" cried Passepartout, whose eyes were standing wide open. `
` `
` "Yes; help me keep Mr. Fogg here for two or three days." `
` `
` "Why, what are you saying? Those gentlemen are not satisfied `
` with following my master and suspecting his honour, but they must `
` try to put obstacles in his way! I blush for them!" `
` `
` "What do you mean?" `
` `
` "I mean that it is a piece of shameful trickery. They might `
` as well waylay Mr. Fogg and put his money in their pockets!" `
` `
` "That's just what we count on doing." `
` `
` "It's a conspiracy, then," cried Passepartout, who became more `
` and more excited as the liquor mounted in his head, for he drank `
` without perceiving it. "A real conspiracy! And gentlemen, too. Bah!" `
` `
` Fix began to be puzzled. `
` `
` "Members of the Reform Club!" continued Passepartout. "You must know, `
` Monsieur Fix, that my master is an honest man, and that, `
` when he makes a wager, he tries to win it fairly!" `
` `
` "But who do you think I am?" asked Fix, looking at him intently. `
` `
` "Parbleu! An agent of the members of the Reform Club, sent out here `
` to interrupt my master's journey. But, though I found you out some time ago, `
` I've taken good care to say nothing about it to Mr. Fogg." `
` `
` "He knows nothing, then?" `
` `
` "Nothing," replied Passepartout, again emptying his glass. `
` `
` The detective passed his hand across his forehead, hesitating before `
` he spoke again. What should he do? Passepartout's mistake seemed sincere, `
` but it made his design more difficult. It was evident that the servant `
` was not the master's accomplice, as Fix had been inclined to suspect. `
` `
` "Well," said the detective to himself, "as he is not an accomplice, `
` he will help me." `
` `
` He had no time to lose: Fogg must be detained at Hong Kong, `
` so he resolved to make a clean breast of it. `
` `
` "Listen to me," said Fix abruptly. "I am not, as you think, `
` an agent of the members of the Reform Club--" `
` `
` "Bah!" retorted Passepartout, with an air of raillery. `
` `
` "I am a police detective, sent out here by the London office." `
` `
`