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 carpetbag."
"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," 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 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 from
where his riches came, 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
sixpence 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 despatch to London for a warrant of arrest to be
despatched 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, where he sent the despatch 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,
before many more moments, the noble steamer rode out at full
steam upon the waters of the Red Sea.