Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in Eighty Days

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?”

“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 - queried – поинтересовался] 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…”

“I’ll see,” interrupted Fix.

“The servant is less mysterious than the master. Besides, he’s 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, it’s 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 o’clock 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 don’t believe it. There’s something else.