Page 144 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
P. 144
Around the World in 80 Days
‘Why,’ responded Fix, a little embarrassed, ‘I don’t
know; perhaps—‘
‘Ah, if you would only go on with us! An agent of the
Peninsular Company, you know, can’t stop on the way!
You were only going to Bombay, and here you are in
China. America is not far off, and from America to Europe
is only a step.’
Fix looked intently at his companion, whose
countenance was as serene as possible, and laughed with
him. But Passepartout persisted in chaffing him by asking
him if he made much by his present occupation.
‘Yes, and no,’ returned Fix; ‘there is good and bad luck
in such things. But you must understand that I don’t travel
at my own expense.’
‘Oh, I am quite sure of that!’ cried Passepartout,
laughing heartily.
Fix, fairly puzzled, descended to his cabin and gave
himself up to his reflections. He was evidently suspected;
somehow or other the Frenchman had found out that he
was a detective. But had he told his master? What part was
he playing in all this: was he an accomplice or not? Was
the game, then, up? Fix spent several hours turning these
things over in his mind, sometimes thinking that all was
lost, then persuading himself that Fogg was ignorant of his
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