Chapter 4

In which Passepartout is nearly late

Mr. Fix is not the steamship company employee, irregardless of what he claimed while speaking with Mlle. Passepartout. In actuality, he is Detective Fix, sent by Scotland Yard in London. Fix scurries from the ship and makes it to the British Consul office, missing Dr. Floyd and your team by just minutes. He tells the Consul that Phileas Floyd is carrying a large sum of money and is the suspect in a bank robbery back in London. The Consul is in disbelief. “Why would a criminal want their passport stamped?” The detective is certain he is on the trail of the right man so dispatches a telegram to Scotland Yard:

Passepartout takes some time away from her travelling companions for sightseeing. While in the market she sees an elaborate religious procession with dancing and gauze ribbons flying. She follows the troupe directly into the main pagoda, failing to stop at the door like all others who enter. Inside, the beautiful Brahmin ornamentation takes her attention to the ceiling when suddenly, three priests yelling in angry tones rush toward her. Before she has time to realize, they have pulled her shoes from her feet and briskly escort her out to the street, yelling all the while.

At 5 minutes to 8, running breathlessly, Passepartout arrives at the train station without time to spare. Dr. Floyd is annoyed saying, “I hope this doesn’t happen again. And where are your shoes?” Poor Passepartout has only a pair of souvenir slides for shoes and the shame of violating a religious custom.