Page:Around the World in Eighty Days (1873, Towle).pdf/229

 dressed Mr. Fogg: "Were you not, like me, sir, a passenger by the 'Rangoon,' which arrived yesterday?"

"I was, sir," replied Mr. Fogg coldly. "But I have not the honour—"

"Pardon me; I thought I should find your servant here."

"Do you know where he is, sir?" asked Aouda anxiously.

"What!" responded Fix, feigning surprise. "Is he not with you?"

"No," said Aouda. "He has not made his appearance since yesterday. Could he have gone on board the 'Carnatic' without us?"

"Without you, madam?" answered the detective. "Excuse me, did you intend to sail in the 'Carnatic'?"

"Yes, sir."

"So did I, madam, and I am excessively disappointed. The 'Carnatic', its repairs being completed, left Hong Kong twelve hours before the stated time, without any notice being given; and we must now wait a week for another steamer."

As he said "a week" Fix felt his heart leap for joy. Fogg detained at Hong Kong for a week! There would be time for the warrant to arrive, and fortune at last favoured the representative of the law. His horror may be imagined when he heard Mr. Fogg say, in his placid voice,