very sorry for
it. I should like to have seen Pere La Chaise and the Circus in the
Champs Elysees again."

"You are in a very great hurry then?" said the detective.

"No, I am not in the least hurry," replied Passe-partout. "It is my
master. By-the-way, I must buy some shirts and a pair of shoes. We
came away without any luggage except a small carpet-bag."

"I will take you to a bazaar where you will find everything you want."

"Really, sir," replied Passe-partout, "you are extremely
good-natured."

So they started off together, Passe-partout talking all the time.

"I must take very good care I do not lose the steamer," said he.

"Oh, you have plenty of time," replied Fix; "it is only twelve
o'clock."

Passe-partout drew out his great watch. "Twelve o'clock," said he.
"Nonsense. It is fifty-two minutes past nine."

"Your watch is slow," replied Fix.

"Slow, my watch slow; why this watch has come to me from my
grandfather. It is an heirloom, and does not vary five minutes in a
year. It is a regular chronometer."

"I see how it is," replied Fix; "you have got London time, which is
about two hours slower than Suez time. You must take care to set your
watch at twelve o'clock in every country you visit."

"Not a bit of it," said Passe-partout, "I am not going to touch my
watch."

"Well, then, it won't agree with the sun."

"I can't help that. So much the worse for the sun; it will be wrong
then." And the brave fellow put his watch back in his pocket with a
contemptuous gesture.

After a few minutes' pause, Fix remarked, "You must have left London
very suddenly?"

"I believe you. Last Wednesday evening at eight o'clock, Mr. Fogg came
home from his club, and in three-quarters of an hour afterwards we
started."

"But where is your master going to?"

"Straight ahead--he is going round the world."

"Going round the world!" exclaimed Fix.

"Yes, in eighty days. He says it is for a wager, but between
ourselves, I don't believe a word of it. It is not common-sense. There
must be some other reason."

"This master of yours is quite an original, I should think."

"Rather," replied the valet.

"Is he very rich?"

"He must be; and he carries a large sum with him, all in new
bank-notes. He never spares expense. He promised a large reward to the
engineer of the _Mongolia_ if he reached Bombay well in advance of
time."

"Have you known your master long?"

"Oh dear no," replied Passe-partout. "I only ent