Passepartout felt himself more and more overcome by intoxication. Fix, understanding that he must at all hazards separate him from his master, wanted to finish him. On the table were a few pipes filled with opium. Fix slipped one into Passepartout's hand, who took it, lifted it to his lips, lighted it, took a few puffs, and fell over, his head stupefied under the influence of the narcotic.
"At least," said Fix, seeing Passepartout out of the way, "Mr. Fogg will not be informed in time of the departure of the Carnatic, and if he leaves he will at least be without this cursed Frenchman!"
Then he left, after paying his bill.
CHAPTER XX
IN WHICH FIX COMES IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH PHILEAS FOGG
During this scene, which might perhaps seriously interfere with his future, Mr. Fogg, accompanying Aouda, was taking a walk through the streets of the English town. Since Aouda accepted his offer to take her to Europe, he had to think of all the details necessary for so long a journey. That an Englishman like him should make the tour of the world with a carpet-bag in his hand, might pass; but a lady could not undertake such a journey under the same conditions. Hence, the necessity of buying clothing and articles necessary for the voyage. Mr. Fogg acquitted himself of his task with the quiet characteristic of him, and he invariably replied to all the excuses and objections of the young woman, confused by so much kindness. "It is the interest of my journey; it is in my programme."
The purchases made, Mr. Fogg and the young woman returned to the hotel and dined at the table d'hôte, which was sumptuously served. Then Aouda, a little tired, went up into her room after having shaken hands English fashion with her imperturbable deliverer.
He, Fogg, was absorbed all the evening in reading the Times and the Illustrated London News. If he had been a man to be astonished at anything it would have been not to have seen his servant at the hour for retiring. But knowing that the Yokohama steamer was not to leave Hong
