Passepartout thereupon recounted Aouda's history, the affair at the Bombay pagoda, the purchase of the elephant for two thousand pounds, the rescue, the arrest and sentence of the Calcutta court, and the restoration of Mr Fogg and himself to liberty on bail. Fix, who was familiar with the last events, seemed to be equally ignorant of all that Passepartout related; and the latter was charmed to find so interested a listener.

`But does your master propose to carry this young woman to Europe?'

`Not at all. We are simply going to place her under the protection of one of her relatives, a rich merchant at Hong Kong.'

`Nothing to be done there,' said Fix to himself, concealing his disappointment. `A glass of gin, Mr Passepartout?'

`Willingly, Monsieur Fix. We must at least have a friendly glass on board the "Rangoon".'