by Jules Verne
Chapter 8
In Which Passepartout Talks Rather More,Perhaps, than Is Prudent
Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was lounging and lookingabout on the quay, as if he did not feel that he, at least, wasobliged not to see anything.
"Well, my friend," said the detective, coming up with him, "isyour 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 adream. So this is Suez?"
"Yes."
"In Egypt?"
"Certainly, in Egypt."
"And in Africa?"
"In Africa."
"In Africa!" repeated Passepartout. "Just think, monsieur, I hadno idea that we should go farther than Paris; and all that I sawof Paris was between twenty minutes past seven and twenty minutesbefore nine in the morning, between the Northern and the Lyonsstations, through the windows of a car, and in a driving rain!How I regret not having seen once more Pere la Chaise and thecircus 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 shoesand shirts. We came away without trunks, only with a carpetbag."
"I will show you an excellent shop for getting what youwant."
"Really, monsieur, you are very kind."
And they walked off together, Passepartout chatting volubly asthey went along.
"Above all," he said; "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 mygreat-grandfather! It doesn't vary five minutes in the year. It'sa perfect chronometer, look you.
"I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept London time, which istwo hours behind that of Suez. You ought to regulate your watchat 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 adefiant gesture. After a few minutes' silence, Fix resumed: "Youleft 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 anhour 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, betweenus, 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 inbrand-new banknotes with him. And he doesn't spare the money onthe way, either. He has offered a large reward to the engineerof 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 andexcited detective may be imagined. The hasty departure fromLondon soon after the robbery; the large sum carried by Mr. Fogg;his eagerness to reach distant countries; the pretext of aneccentric and foolhardy bet--all confirmed Fix in his theory. Hecontinued to pump poor Passepartout, and learned that he reallyknew little or nothing of his master, who lived a solitaryexistence in London, was said to be rich, though no one knew fromwhere his riches came, and was mysterious and impenetrable in hisaffairs and habits. Fix felt sure that Phileas Fogg would notland 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 thatworries me--my burner!"
"What burner?"
"My gas-burner, which I forgot to turn off, and which is at thismoment burning--at my expense. I have calculated, monsieur, thatI lose two shillings every four and twenty hours, exactlysixpence more than I earn; and you will understand that thelonger our journey--"
Did Fix pay any attention to Passepartout's trouble about thegas? It is not probable. He was not listening, but was cogitatinga project. Passepartout and he had now reached the shop whereFix left his companion to make his purchases, after recommendinghim not to miss the steamer, and hurried back to theconsulate. Now that he was fully convinced, Fix had quiterecovered his equanimity.
"Consul," said he, "I have no longer any doubt. I have spotted myman. He passes himself off as an odd stick who is going round theworld in eighty days."
"Then he's a sharp fellow," returned the consul, "and counts onreturning to London after putting the police of the two countriesoff 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 hehad passed through Suez?"
"Why? I have no idea; but listen to me."
He reported in a few words the most important parts of hisconversation with Passepartout.
"In short," said the consul, "appearances are wholly against thisman. And what are you going to do?"
"Send a despatch to London for a warrant of arrest to bedespatched instantly to Bombay, take passage on board theMongolia, follow my rogue to India, and there, on English ground,arrest him politely, with my warrant in my hand, and my hand onhis shoulder."
Having uttered these words with a cool, careless air, thedetective took leave of the consul, and repaired to the telegraphoffice, where he sent the despatch which we have seen to theLondon police office. A quarter of an hour later found Fix, witha small bag in his hand, proceeding on board the Mongolia; and,before many more moments, the noble steamer rode out at fullsteam upon the waters of the Red Sea.
