Home Categories science fiction Around the World in Eighty Days

Chapter 8 CHAPTER VIII Passepartout seems to have said a little too much

Not long after, Fix met Passepartout on the pier again.He was wandering about at his own ease, looking around, as he thought he should see everything on the road. "Well, my friend!" said Fix, approaching Passepartout, "is your passport ready for a visa?" "Oh, so it was you, sir. Thank you for your concern, we have done everything according to the rules." The Frenchman replied. "Are you admiring the scenery here?" "Yes, but it's just going too fast, it's like traveling in a dream, have we really arrived in Suez?" "It's Suez."

"Didn't you just arrive in Egypt?" "Exactly! We're in Egypt." "Are you in Africa?" "It's in Africa." "Ah! we're in Africa!" said Passepartout. "I can't believe it! You see, I thought I couldn't get farther than Paris! Paris, such a famous and great capital, I was only at seven-twenty in the morning. At eight-forty, I looked out of the carriage window for a while during the period between Gare du Nord and Gare de Lyons, and it was raining heavily outside. What a pity!" "So you are in a hurry?" asked the detective.

"Me, I'm not in a hurry. My master is in a hurry. Oh, now that I think about it, I have to buy socks and shirts! We didn't take any luggage with us, only a travel bag!" "I'll take you to the market to buy, there's everything there." "Sir," said Passepartout to Fix, "you are a very warm man! . . . " So they went together.Once the Lulu chat box was opened, there was no end to it. "The most important thing," said Passepartout, "is that I must take care not to miss the boat. "There is plenty of time," replied Fix; "it is only twelve o'clock."

Passepartout drew out his large silver watch and said: "Twelve! Don't be kidding! It's nine fifty-two." "Your watch is slow," said Fix. "My watch is slow! It's a family heirloom from my great-grandfather. It doesn't get off four or five minutes a year, it's a standard watch." "Oh, I see," replied Fix, "that your watch is on London time, which is about two hours behind Suez time. You should set your watch to ten at the local noon time wherever you go. two points." "My watch!" cried Passepartout; "my watch is never set."

"Then your watch does not correspond to the course of the sun." "Never mind the sun! The sun can be wrong, sir." The good boy put the watch in his fob pocket nonchalantly. After a while, Fix asked again: "Aren't you in too much of a hurry to leave London?" "Of course, last Wednesday night, Mr. Fogg, contrary to the usual rules, came back from the club at eight o'clock. In three-quarters of an hour we set off." "Where is your master going?" "Keep going east! Going around the world!" "Around-the-globe?" cried Fix.

"Yes, for eighty days! He says it's a bet. But, to tell you the truth, I don't believe it at all. It's a bit unnatural, and there must be something else!" "Ah! What a queer Mr. Fogg!" "That's what I said." "He's rich, isn't he?" "Of course, he's got a good deal of money with him, and it's all brand new money! He's not saving any money on the way, you know? He said to the Mongol's mate that if only the ship would get to Bombay a little earlier, He'll give you a big bonus!" "Have you known your master long ago?"

"I," replied Passepartout, "it was on the day of my departure that I went to work at his house." It is not difficult to imagine the reaction which this answer aroused in the mind of the detective, who was already very excited.The hasty departure from London so soon after the theft, the hasty travel with such a large sum of money, and the pretext of such a strange bet, all vindicated Fix's conjectures.He teased the French lad a little more; he already knew with certainty that the lad knew nothing of his master, that Mr. Fogg was living in isolation in London; that he was said to be rich, but Don't know where his money comes from; know he's an elusive man.At the same time, Fix knew that Phileas Fogg would not land at Suez.He was really going to Bombay.

"Is Bombay far from here?" asked Passepartout. "It's quite a distance," replied the detective. "You'll have to take a boat for ten days to get there." "Where the hell is Bombay?" "in India." "I'm blind this time! Damn it, I tell you... there's one thing that's killing me... my gas..." "What mold?" "I forgot to turn off the gas stove when I went out. It's still burning there. I'll have to pay for the gas bill in the future. Come to think of it, two shillings every twenty-four hours. That's just as much as my daily bill." Sixpence more wages. You will see that I lose a day every day I prolong my trip."

Did Fix really understand the "gas" problem he was talking about?It was hard to say, because he hadn't listened to Passepartout for a long time, and he was thinking about what he should do.They came all the way to the department store.Fix let Passepartout go shopping by himself, reminded him not to miss the sailing time, and then hurried back to the consulate.Now Fix was confident and seemed very composed. "Monsieur Consul," said he, "I can now say with certainty that this fellow will not escape me. He is trying to deceive you by pretending to be a strange gentleman who will take eighty days to circumnavigate the world."

"Then he is a very cunning man," went on the Consul, "and he intends to confuse all the police departments in Europe and America, and then return to London." "Yes! We'd really like to see him!" replied Fix. "Are you sure you are not mistaken?" the consul asked again. "I can't be mistaken." "Then why does this thief have to get a passport to apply for a visa to prove that he passed through Suez?" "Why . Then he related the most doubtful facts of the conversation he had just had with Fogg's servant. "Yes, everything that can be drawn from these facts suggests that the man is unreliable. But what are you going to do about it?"

"I telegraphed London at once to ask for a warrant of arrest to be sent immediately to Bombay. Then I boarded the Mongol and followed the thief all the way to India. When I got to the British possessions, I walked politely to the He stepped forward, took out the arrest ticket with one hand, and grabbed his shoulder with the other." A quarter of an hour later, Fix boarded the Mongol with his simple luggage and a sum of money.After a while, the fast boat was galloping across the Red Sea like flying.
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