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CHAPTER 8
In Which Passepartout Talks Rather More,
Perhaps, Than Is Prudent
Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was
lounging and looking about on the quay, as if
he did not feel that he, at least, was obliged
not to see anything.
"Well, my friend," said the detective,
coming up with him, "is your passport
visaed?"
"Ah, it's you, is it, monsieur?" responded
Passepartout. "Thanks, yes, the passport is all
right."
"And you are looking about you?"
"Yes; but we travel so fast that I seem to
be journeying in a dream. So this is Suez?"
"Yes."
"In Egypt?"
"Certainly, in Egypt."
"And in Africa?"
"In Africa."
"In Africa!" repeated Passepartout. "Just
think, monsieur, I had no idea that we should
go farther than Paris; and all that I saw of
Paris was between twenty minutes past seven and
twenty minutes before nine in the morning,
between the Northern and the Lyons stations,
through the windows of a car, and in a driving
rain! How I regret not having seen once more
Pere la Chaise and the circus in the Champs
Elysees!"
"You are in a great hurry, then?"
"I am not, but my master is. By the way, I
must buy some shoes and shirts. We came away
without trunks, only with a carpet-bag."
"I will show you an excellent shop for
getting what you want."
"Really, monsieur, you are very kind."
And they walked off together, Passepartout
chatting volubly as they went along.
"Above all," said he; "don't let me lose the
steamer."
"You have plenty of time; it's only twelve
o'clock."
Passepartout pulled out his big watch.
"Twelve!" he exclaimed; "why, it's only eight
minutes before ten."
"Your watch is slow."
"My watch? A family watch, monsieur, which
has come down from my great-grandfather! It
doesn't vary five minutes in the year. It's a
perfect chronometer, look you."
"I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept
London time, which is two hours behind that of
Suez. You ought to regulate your watch at noon
in each country."
"I regulate my watch? Never!"
"Well, then, it will not agree with the
sun."
"So much the worse for the sun, monsieur.
The sun will be wrong, then!"
And the worthy fellow returned the watch to
its fob with a defiant gesture. After a few
minutes silence, Fix resumed: "You left London
hastily, then?"
"I rather think so! Last Friday at eight
o'clock in the evening, Monsieur Fogg came home
from his club, and three-quarters of an hour
afterwards we were off."
"But where is your master going?"
"Always straight ahead. He is going round
the world."
"Round the world?" cried Fix.
"Yes, and in eighty days! He says it is on a
wager; but, between us, I don't believe a word
of it. That wouldn't be common sense. There's
something else in the wind."
"Ah! Mr. Fogg is a character, is he?"
"I should say he was."
"Is he rich?"
"No doubt, for he is carrying an enormous
sum in brand new banknotes with him. And he
doesn't spare the money on the way, either: he
has offered a large reward to the engineer of
the Mongolia if he gets us to Bombay well in
advance of time."
"And you have known your master a long
time?"
"Why, no; I entered his service the very day
we left London."
The effect of these replies upon the already
suspicious and excited detective may be
imagined. The hasty departure from London soon
after the robbery; the large sum carried by Mr.
Fogg; his eagerness to reach distant countries;
the pretext of an eccentric and foolhardy
bet--all confirmed Fix in his theory. He
continued to pump poor Passepartout, and
learned that he really knew little or nothing
of his master, who lived a solitary existence
in London, was said to be rich, though no one
knew whence came his riches, and was mysterious
and impenetrable in his affairs and habits. Fix
felt sure that Phileas Fogg would not land at
Suez, but was really going on to Bombay.
"Is Bombay far from here?" asked
Passepartout.
"Pretty far. It is a ten days' voyage by
sea."
"And in what country is Bombay?"
"India."
"In Asia?"
"Certainly."
"The deuce! I was going to tell you there's
one thing that worries me-- my burner!"
"What burner?"
"My gas-burner, which I forgot to turn off,
and which is at this moment burning at my
expense. I have calculated, monsieur, that I
lose two shillings every four and twenty hours,
exactly sixpense more than I earn; and you will
understand that the longer our journey--"
Did Fix pay any attention to Passepartout's
trouble about the gas? It is not probable. He
was not listening, but was cogitating a
project. Passepartout and he had now reached
the shop, where Fix left his companion to make
his purchases, after recommending him not to
miss the steamer, and hurried back to the
consulate. Now that he was fully convinced, Fix
had quite recovered his equanimity.
"Consul," said he, "I have no longer any
doubt. I have spotted my man. He passes himself
off as an odd stick who is going round the
world in eighty days."
"Then he's a sharp fellow," returned the
consul, "and counts on returning to London
after putting the police of the two countries
off his track."
"We'll see about that," replied Fix.
"But are you not mistaken?"
"I am not mistaken."
"Why was this robber so anxious to prove, by
the visa, that he had passed through Suez?"
"Why? I have no idea; but listen to me."
He reported in a few words the most
important parts of his conversation with
Passepartout.
"In short," said the consul, "appearances
are wholly against this man. And what are you
going to do?"
"Send a dispatch to London for a warrant of
arrest to be dispatched instantly to Bombay,
take passage on board the Mongolia, follow my
rogue to India, and there, on English ground,
arrest him politely, with my warrant in my
hand, and my hand on his shoulder."
Having uttered these words with a cool,
careless air, the detective took leave of the
consul, and repaired to the telegraph office,
whence he sent the dispatch which we have seen
to the London police office. A quarter of an
hour later found Fix, with a small bag in his
hand, proceeding on board the Mongolia; and,
ere many moments longer, the noble steamer rode
out at full steam upon the waters of the Red
Sea.
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