Passepartout tried to reply, but was silent. He went out, mounted to his own room, and fell into a chair. Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. Was this a joke, then?
Eight oclock. Passepartout packed the carpet-bag, carefully shut the door of his room, and descended to Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg was quite ready. He took the carpet-bag, opened it, and slipped into it a roll of Bank of England notes.
Didnt you forget anything? asked he.
Nothing, monsieur.
Good! Take this carpet-bag. There are twenty thousand pounds in it.
They then descended, and at the end of Saville Row they took a cab and drove rapidly to Charing Cross[43]. The cab stopped before the railway station at twenty minutes past eight. Passepartout followed his master, who was ready to enter the station, when a poor beggar-woman, with a child in her arms, approached, and mournfully asked for alms.
Mr. Fogg took out the twenty guineas and handed them to the beggar,
Here, my good woman. Im glad that I met you.
Passepartout saw it; his masters action touched his susceptible heart. Mr. Fogg bought two first-class tickets for Paris, and then perceived his five friends of the Reform.
Well, gentlemen, said he, I go, you see; and you will be able to examine my passport when I get back.
Oh, that would be quite unnecessary, Mr. Fogg, said Ralph politely. We will trust your word.
You do not forget when you are in London again? asked Stuart.
In eighty days; on Saturday, the 21st of December, 1872, at a quarter before nine p.m. Good-bye, gentlemen.
Phileas Fogg and his servant sat in a first-class carriage at twenty minutes before nine. Five minutes later the whistle screamed, and the train slowly glided out of the station.
Chapter V
Phileas Fogg did not suspect that his departure from London created a lively sensation at the West End[44]. The news of the bet soon got into the papers throughout England. They talked, disputed, argued about his tour of the world. Many people shook their heads and declared against him. It was absurd, impossible in this minimum of time! People in general thought him a lunatic, and blamed his Reform Club friends for this wager.
A few readers of the Daily Telegraph even dared to say, Why not, after all? Stranger things happened. Everybody knows that to bet is in the English temperament. Not only the members of the Reform, but the general public, made wagers for or against Phileas Fogg. He became a race-horse. But everybody was against Fogg, and the bets stood a hundred and fifty and two hundred to one.
A week after his departure an incident occurred. The commissioner of police was in his office at nine oclock one evening, when the following telegraphic dispatch arrived:
Suez to London.
Rowan, Commissioner of Police, Scotland Yard[45]:
I found the bank robber, Phileas Fogg. Send with out delay warrant of arrest[46] to Bombay.
Fix, Detective.
The effect of this dispatch was instantaneous. The polished gentleman disappeared to give place to the bank robber. The mysterious habits of Phileas Fogg were recalled; his solitary ways, his sudden departure.
Chapter VI
The circumstances were as follows. The steamer Mongolia[47] plied regularly between Brindisi and Bombay via the Suez Canal, and was one of the fastest steamers.
Two men walked up and down the wharves, among the crowd of natives and strangers. One was the British consul at Suez. The other was a small personage, with a nervous, intelligent face and bright eyes. He was nervously paced up and down, and was unable to stand still for a moment. This was Fix, one of the detectives. Fix came from to catch the bank robber. It was his task to watch every passenger who arrived at Suez, and to follow up all suspicious characters. The detective hoped to obtain the splendid reward, and awaited with a feverish impatience, easy to understand, the arrival of the steamer Mongolia.
So you say, consul, said he, that this steamer comes directly from Brindisi?
Directly from Brindisi. Have patience, Mr. Fix; it will not be late. But really, I dont see how, from the description you have, you will be able to recognise your man, even if he is on board the Mongolia.
A man rather feels the presence of these fellows, consul, than recognises them. You must have a scent for them hearing, seeing, and smelling. If my thief is on board, hell not slip through my fingers.
I hope so, Mr. Fix, for it was a heavy robbery.
A magnificent robbery, consul; fifty-five thousand pounds!
Mr. Fix, said the consul, I hope youll succeed; but what about your description?
Consul, remarked the detective, dogmatically, great robbers always resemble honest folks. To unmask honest countenances, its a difficult task, I admit.
Soon Mongolia appeared. It brought many passengers, some of whom remained on deck. Fix carefully examined each face. Presently one of the passengers came up to him and politely asked about the English consulate. Fix instinctively took the passport, and with a rapid glance read the description of its bearer. An involuntary motion of surprise nearly escaped him, for the description in the passport was identical with that of the bank robber from Scotland Yard.
Is this your passport? asked he.
No, its my masters.
And your master is
He stayed on board.
But he must go to the consuls in person.
Oh, is that necessary?
Quite indispensable.
And where is the consulate?
There, on the corner of the square, said Fix.
Ill go and fetch my master.
The passenger bowed to Fix, and returned to the steamer.
Chapter VII
The detective passed down the quay, and rapidly came to the consuls office.
Consul, said he, without preamble[48], I think that my man is a passenger on the Mongolia.
Well, Mr. Fix, replied the consul, I want to see the rascals face; but perhaps he wont come here. A robber doesnt like to leave traces.
If he is shrewd, consul, he will come.
To have his passport visaed[49]?
Yes. And I hope you will not visa the passport.
Why not? If the passport is genuine[50] I have no right to refuse.
Still, I must keep this man here until I can get a warrant to arrest him from London.
Ah, thats your business. But I cannot
The consul did not finish his sentence. They heard a knock at the door, and two strangers entered. One of whom was the servant. The other was his master, and held out his passport. The consul took the document and carefully read it.
You are Mr. Phileas Fogg? said the consul.
I am.
And this man is your servant?
He is: a Frenchman, named Passepartout.
You are from London?
Yes.
And you are going
To Bombay.
Very good, sir. You know that a visa is useless, and that no passport is required?
And you are going
To Bombay.
Very good, sir. You know that a visa is useless, and that no passport is required?
I know it, sir, replied Phileas Fogg; but I wish to prove, by your visa, that I came by Suez.
Very well, sir.
The consul proceeded to sign and date the passport, after which he added his official seal. Mr. Fogg paid the customary fee and went out. His servant followed him.
Well? queried[51] the detective.
Well, he looks and acts like a perfectly honest man, replied the consul.
Possibly. Do you think, consul, that this phlegmatic gentleman resembles the robber?
I concede that; but then, you know
Ill see, interrupted Fix. The servant is less mysterious than the master. Besides, hes a Frenchman, and likes to talk. Excuse me, consul.
Chapter VIII
Fix soon rejoined Passepartout on the quay.
Well, my friend, said the detective, is your passport visaed?
Ah, its you, monsieur? responded Passepartout. Thanks, yes, the passport is all right. We travel so fast! So this is Suez?
Yes.
In Egypt?
Certainly, in Egypt.
And in Africa?
In Africa.
In Africa! repeated Passepartout.
You are in a great hurry, then?
I am not, but my master is. I must buy some shoes and shirts. We came away only with a carpet-bag.
I will show you an excellent shop.
Really, monsieur, you are very kind.
And they walked off together. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed:
You left London hastily, then?
I think so! Last Friday at eight oclock in the evening, Monsieur Fogg came home from his club, and three-quarters of an hour afterwards we were off.
But where will your master go?
Always straight ahead, round the world.
Round the world? cried Fix.
Yes, and in eighty days! He says it is on a wager; but I dont believe it. Theres something else.
Ah! Is Mr. Fogg rich?
No doubt. He carries new banknotes with him. And he offered a large reward to the engineer of the Mongolia if he gets us to Bombay very fast.
Do you know your master well?
No; I entered his service the very day we left London.
The hasty departure from London soon after the robbery; the large sum that Mr. Fogg had; his eagerness[52] to reach distant countries-all confirmed Fix in his theory. He continued to ask poor Passepartout, and learned that he really knew little or nothing of his master, who lived in London, was rich, and was mysterious. Phileas Fogg wont land at Suez, but will go to Bombay.
Is Bombay far from here? asked Passepartout.
Yes. Ten days voyage by sea.
And in what country is Bombay?
India.
In Asia?
Certainly.
Fix and Passepartout reached the shop, where Fix left his companion and hurried back to the consulate. Now he was fully convinced.
Consul, said he, I have no doubt. That man wants to go round the world in eighty days.
Then hes a smart fellow, returned the consul.
Fix reported in a few words the most important parts of his conversation with Passepartout.
So, said the consul, what will you do?
Ill send a dispatch to London, follow my rogue to India, and there, on English ground, arrest him.
Chapter IX
The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundred and ten miles. Many passengers from Brindisi were going to Bombay, others for Calcutta. Phileas Fogg seldom went upon the deck, and he played whist. Passepartout escaped sea-sickness, and rather enjoyed the voyage.
Oh, said Passepartout when he approached, you are the gentleman who met me at Suez?
Ah! I quite recognise you. You are the servant of the strange Englishman.
Just so, monsieur
Fix.
Monsieur Fix, resumed Passepartout, Where are you going?
Like you, to Bombay.
Thats great! Do you know India?
Yes, replied Fix, who spoke cautiously.
A curious place, this India?
Oh, very curious. Mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas, tigers, snakes, elephants! And how is Mr. Fogg? asked Fix.
Quite well, and I too.
But I never see your master on deck.
After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix talked much. Meanwhile the Mongolia went rapidly, and instead of the 15th, arrived to Aden on the evening of the 14th. Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to visa the passport. Fix followed them. Then Mr. Fogg returned on board. Passepartout sauntered about among the mixed population of Somalis, Banyans, Parsees, Jews, Arabs, and Europeans.
Very curious, very curious, said Passepartout to himself.
On Sunday, October 20th, towards noon, they saw the Indian coast. The Mongolia was at Bombay on the 20th.
Chapter X
India embraces fourteen hundred thousand square miles, its population is one hundred and eighty millions people. But British India only embraces seven hundred thousand square miles, and its population is from one hundred to one hundred and ten millions of inhabitants. A considerable portion of India is still free from British authority; and there are certain ferocious rajahs who are absolutely independent.
The passengers of the Mongolia went ashore at half-past four p.m. At eight the train will start for[53] Calcutta. Mr. Fogg left the steamer, gave his servant several errands and directed his steps to the passport office. He did not care for the wonders of Bombay-its famous city hall, its splendid library, its forts and docks, its bazaars, mosques, synagogues, its Armenian churches, and the noble pagoda on Malabar Hill[54].
Then Phileas Fogg repaired quietly to the railway station, where he ordered dinner. Among the dishes, the landlord especially recommended a native rabbit. Mr. Fogg accordingly tasted the dish, but found it horrible. He rang for the landlord, and, on his appearance, said,
Is this rabbit, sir?
Yes, my lord, the rogue boldly replied, rabbit from the jungles.
And this rabbit did not mew when they killed it?
Mew, my lord! What, a rabbit cant mew! I swear to you
Landlord, remember this: in India, cats were sacred animals. That was a good time.
For the cats, my lord?
Perhaps for the travelers as well!
Fix went on shore shortly after Mr. Fogg. His first destination was the Bombay police. He nervously asked if a warrant arrived from London. It did not reach the office. Fix was disappointed, and tried to obtain an order of arrest from the director of the Bombay police. The director refused.
Passepartout, however, purchased shirts and shoes and took a leisurely promenade about the streets. It was the day of a Parsee festival[55]. These descendants of the sect of Zoroaster[56] were celebrating a religious carnival, with processions and shows.
Unhappily for his master, Passepartouts curiosity drew him very far. He saw the splendid pagoda on Malabar Hill. He was quite ignorant that it is forbidden to Christians to enter certain Indian temples, and that even the faithful must go in without their shoes.