The Rangoon was a fast iron ship traveling from Calcutta to Hong Kong. The journey across the sea would take about ten to twelve days. During this time, Aouda became deeply grateful to her rescuer. Mr. Fogg visited her every day to ensure she was comfortable, but he acted like a polite robot, showing no emotion at all. Aouda didn't quite understand him, but Passepartout explained his master's strange personality and his crazy race around the world.
Aouda confirmed that she had a wealthy relative in Hong Kong. Fogg promised to help her find him. The first few days of the voyage passed with perfect weather, and the ship sailed smoothly past beautiful, tropical islands covered in tall palm trees.
Meanwhile, Detective Fix was secretly on board. He had sneaked onto the ship in Calcutta, hiding in his cabin so Passepartout wouldn't see him. Hong Kong was the last British territory on Fogg's route. After that, Fogg would escape to China, Japan, or America, where the British police had no power. Fix desperately needed his official arrest warrant to finally be waiting for him in Hong Kong. If it wasn't there, he had to find a way to delay the journey, or his career and reputation as a detective would be completely ruined.
Fix considered telling Passepartout the truth about the bank robbery, hoping the servant would turn against his master. But that was too risky; Passepartout might warn Fogg instead. Next, Fix focused on the mysterious young woman. He wondered if Fogg had illegally kidnapped her. If so, Fix could use this scandal to create legal trouble and trap Fogg in Hong Kong. He decided to question Passepartout to find out the truth.
The day before the ship reached Singapore, Fix walked onto the deck and pretended to be shocked. "You here, on the Rangoon?" he cried.
"Monsieur Fix!" Passepartout replied, completely astonished. "I left you in Bombay! Are you traveling around the world too?"
"No, I am only going to Hong Kong," Fix lied.
"But why haven't I seen you since Calcutta?" the servant asked.
"I have been terribly seasick, staying in my bed," Fix explained. "And how is Mr. Fogg?"
"As perfectly on time as ever! But you don't know the news—we have a young lady with us!"
Fix pretended to be completely ignorant. He listened carefully as Passepartout excitedly told him the entire amazing story: the expensive elephant, the brave rescue from the fire, the unfair trial, and the massive amount of money they paid to stay out of prison in Calcutta. Fix realized he already knew most of this, but he acted completely surprised to keep his cover.
"But does your master plan to take this young woman to Europe?" Fix asked, hoping to prove his kidnapping theory.
"Not at all," Passepartout answered. "We are simply leaving her under the protection of her rich relative in Hong Kong."
Fix hid his bitter disappointment. His plan to accuse Fogg of a crime had completely failed. There was nothing for him to do but wait and hope for his legal papers to arrive. "Well," Fix said smoothly, "shall we go have a glass of gin, Mr. Passepartout?"
"Gladly!" the friendly servant replied, happy to share a drink with his old friend.