“you are the gentleman who so kindly volunteered to guide me at Suez?”

“Ah! I quite recognise you. You are the servant of the strange Englishman — ”

“Just so, monsieur — ”

“Fix.”

“Monsieur Fix,” resumed Passepartout, “I'm charmed to find you on board.

Where are you bound?”

“Like you, to Bombay.”

“That's capital! Have you made this trip before?”

“Several times. I am one of the agents of the Peninsular Company.”

“Then you know India?”