VIII. In which Passepartout Talks Rather More, Perhaps, than is Prudent

by Jules Verne

　　Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was lounging and looking abouton the quay, as if he did not feel that he, at least, was obligednot 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 Isaw of Paris was between twenty minutes past seven and twentyminutes before nine in the morning, between the Northern andthe Lyons stations, through the windows of a car, and in adriving rain! How I regret not having seen once more Pere la Chaiseand 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 volublyas 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 frommy 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 regulateyour 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 adefiant 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 hourafterwards 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 newbanknotes with him. And he doesn't spare the money on the way,either: he has offered a large reward to the engineer of theMongolia 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 suspiciousand excited detective may be imagined. The hasty departurefrom London 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.He continued 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 knewwhence came his riches, and was mysterious and impenetrablein his affairs and habits. Fix felt sure that Phileas Foggwould 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 atthis moment burning at my expense. I have calculated, monsieur,that I lose two shillings every four and twenty hours, exactlysixpense more than I earn; and you will understand that the longerour 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 companionto 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 worldin 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 he had passed through Suez?""Why? I have no idea; but listen to me."He reported in a few words the most important partsof 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 dispatchedinstantly to Bombay, take passage on board the Mongolia, follow my rogueto India, and there, on English ground, arrest him politely, with my warrantin my hand, and my hand on his shoulder."Having uttered these words with a cool, careless air, the detectivetook 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.