Chapter 22

           TheCarnatic,settingsailfromHongKongathalf-pastsixonthe7thofNovember,directedhercourseatfullsteamtowardsJapan.Shecarriedalargecargoandawell-filledcabinofpassengers.Twostate-roomsintherearwere,however,unoccupiedthosewhichhadbeenengagedbyPhileasFogg.

           Thenextdayapassengerwithahalf-stupefiedeye,staggeringgait,anddisorderedhair,wasseentoemergefromthesecondcabin,andtotottertoaseatondeck.

           ItwasPassepartout;andwhathadhappenedtohimwasasfollows:ShortlyafterFixlefttheopiumden,twowaitershadliftedtheunconsciousPassepartout,andhadcarriedhimtothebedreservedforthesmokers.Threehourslater,pursuedeveninhisdreamsbyafixedidea,thepoorfellowawoke,andstruggledagainstthestupefyinginfluenceofthenarcotic.Thethoughtofadutyunfulfilledshookoffhistorpor,andhehurriedfromtheabodeofdrunkenness.Staggeringandholdinghimselfupbykeepingagainstthewalls,fallingdownandcreepingupagain,andirresistiblyimpelledbyakindofinstinct,hekeptcryingout,"TheCarnatic!theCarnatic!"

           Thesteamerlaypuffingalongsidethequay,onthepointofstarting.Passepartouthadbutfewstepstogo;and,rushingupontheplank,hecrossedit,andfellunconsciousonthedeck,justastheCarnaticwasmovingoff.Severalsailors,whowereevidentlyaccustomedtothissortofscene,carriedthepoorFrenchmandownintothesecondcabin,andPassepartoutdidnotwakeuntiltheywereonehundredandfiftymilesawayfromChina.ThushefoundhimselfthenextmorningonthedeckoftheCarnatic,andeagerlyinhalingtheexhilaratingsea-breeze.Thepureairsoberedhim.Hebegantocollecthissense,whichhefoundadifficulttask;butatlastherecalledtheeventsoftheeveningbefore,Fix’srevelation,andtheopium-house.

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