Page 158 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
P. 158
Around the World in 80 Days
men and women, in the Celestial Empire; and, once
accustomed to it, the victims cannot dispense with it,
except by suffering horrible bodily contortions and
agonies. A great smoker can smoke as many as eight pipes
a day; but he dies in five years. It was in one of these dens
that Fix and Passepartout, in search of a friendly glass,
found themselves. Passepartout had no money, but
willingly accepted Fix’s invitation in the hope of returning
the obligation at some future time.
They ordered two bottles of port, to which the
Frenchman did ample justice, whilst Fix observed him
with close attention. They chatted about the journey, and
Passepartout was especially merry at the idea that Fix was
going to continue it with them. When the bottles were
empty, however, he rose to go and tell his master of the
change in the time of the sailing of the Carnatic.
Fix caught him by the arm, and said, ‘Wait a moment.’
‘What for, Mr. Fix?’
‘I want to have a serious talk with you.’
‘A serious talk!’ cried Passepartout, drinking up the
little wine that was left in the bottom of his glass. ‘Well,
we’ll talk about it to-morrow; I haven’t time now.’
‘Stay! What I have to say concerns your master.’
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