Around the World in Eighty Days, Page 9

  Chapter VIII

  IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TALKS RATHER MORE, PERHAPS, THAN IS PRUDENT

  Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was lounging and looking about onthe quay, as if he did not feel that he, at least, was obliged not tosee anything.

  "Well, my friend," said the detective, coming up with him, "is yourpassport 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 noidea that we should go farther than Paris; and all that I saw of Pariswas between twenty minutes past seven and twenty minutes before nine inthe morning, between the Northern and the Lyons stations, through thewindows of a car, and in a driving rain! How I regret not having seenonce 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 andshirts. 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 theywent 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 mygreat-grandfather! It doesn't vary five minutes in the year. It's aperfect chronometer, look you."

  "I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept London time, which is twohours behind that of Suez. You ought to regulate your watch at noon ineach 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 defiantgesture. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed: "You left Londonhastily, 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, Idon't believe a word of it. That wouldn't be common sense. There'ssomething 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 banknoteswith him. And he doesn't spare the money on the way, either: he hasoffered a large reward to the engineer of the Mongolia if he gets us toBombay 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 exciteddetective may be imagined. The hasty departure from London soon afterthe robbery; the large sum carried by Mr. Fogg; his eagerness to reachdistant countries; the pretext of an eccentric and foolhardy bet--allconfirmed Fix in his theory. He continued to pump poor Passepartout,and learned that he really knew little or nothing of his master, wholived a solitary existence in London, was said to be rich, though noone knew whence came his riches, and was mysterious and impenetrable inhis affairs and habits. Fix felt sure that Phileas Fogg would not landat 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 worriesme--my burner!"

  "What burner?"

  "My gas-burner, which I forgot to turn off, and which is at this momentburning at my expense. I have calculated, monsieur, that I lose twoshillings every four and twenty hours, exactly sixpence more than Iearn; and you will understand that the longer our journey--"

  Did Fix pay any attention to Passepartout's trouble about the gas? Itis not probable. He was not listening, but was cogitating a project.Passepartout and he had now reached the shop, where Fix left hiscompanion to make his purchases, after recommending him not to miss thesteamer, and hurried back to the consulate. Now that he was fullyconvinced, 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 ineighty days."

  "Then he's a sharp fellow," returned the consul, "and counts onreturning to London after putting the police of the two countries offhis 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 hadpassed through Suez?"

  "Why? I have no idea; but listen to me."

  He reported in a few words the most important parts of his conversationwith 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 myrogue to India, and there, on English ground, arrest him politely, withmy warrant in 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, whencehe sent the dispatch which we have seen to the London police office. Aquarter of an hour later found Fix, with a small bag in his hand,proceeding on board the Mongolia; and, ere many moments longer, thenoble steamer rode out at full steam upon the waters of the Red Sea.