by Verne, Jules, 1828-1905
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which to attend to his business there, which was to deposit Aouda safely with her wealthy relative.
On landing, he conducted her to a palanquin, in which they repaired to the Club Hotel. A room was engaged for the }'oung woman, and ]\Ir. Fogg, after seeing that she wanted for nothing, set out in search of her cousin Jejeeh. He instructed Passepartout to remain at the hotel until his return, that Aouda might not be left entirely alone.
i\Ir. Fogg repaired to the Exchange, where, he did not doubt, every one would know so wealthy and considerable a personage as the Parsee merchant. Meeting a broker, he made the inquiry, to learn that Jejeeh had left China two years before, and, retiring from business with an immense fortune, had taken up his residence in Europe?in Holland, the broker thought, with the merchants of which country he had principally traded. Phileas P'ogg returned to the hotel, begged a moment's conversation with Aouda, and, without more ado, apprised her that Jejeeh was no longer at Hong Kong, but probably in Holland.
Aouda at first said nothing. She passed her hand across her forehead, and reflected a few moments. Then, in her sweet, soft voice, she said, "What ought I to do, Mr. Fogg.?"
" It is very simple," responded the gentleman. ^' Go on to Europe."
'* But I cannot intrude?"
" You do not intrude, nor do you in the least embarrass my project. Passepartout!"
" Monsieur."
*' Go to the ' Carnatic,' and engage three cabins."
Passepartout, dehghted that the young woman, who was very gracious to him, was going to continue the journey with them, went off at a brisk gait to obey his master's order.
CHAPTER XIX.
IN AYHICH PASSEPARTOUT TAKES A TOO GREAT INTEREST IN HIS PIASTER, AND ^YHAT COMES OF IT.
Hong Kong is an island which came into the possession of the Enghsh by the treaty of X'ankin, after the war of 1842 ; and the colonizing 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, macadamized 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 hcnds 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 unHke 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 on with us as 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."
