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 Père la Chaise and the circus in the Champs Elysées!'

`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 volubly as 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 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 bank-notes 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 lon............