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.