"Ah! it is you, monsieur," replied the Frenchman. "Much obliged. It is all in order."
"And you are looking at the country?"
"Yes, but we go so quickly that it seems to me as if I am traveling in a dream. And so we are in Suez?"
"Yes, in Suez."
"In Egypt?"
"You are quite right, in Egypt."
"And in Africa?"
"Yes, in Africa."
"In Africa!" repeated Passepartout. "I cannot believe it. Just, fancy, sir, that I imagined we would not go further than Paris, and I saw this famous capital again between twenty minutes after seven and twenty minutes of nine in the morning, between the Northern station and the Lyons station, through the windows of a cab in a driving rain! I regret it! I would have so much liked to see again Pere La Chaise and the Circus of the Champs-Elysées!"
"You are then in a great hurry?" asked the detective.
"No, I am not, but my master is. By-the-by, I must buy some shirts and shoes! We came away without trunks, with a carpet bag only."
"I am going to take you to a shop where you will find everything you want."
"Monsieur," replied Passepartout, "you are really very kind!"
And both started off. Passepartout talked incessantly. "Above all," he said, "I must take care not to miss the steamer!"
"You have the time," replied Fix, "it is only noon!"
Passepartout pulled out his large watch. "Noon. Pshaw! It is eight minutes of ten!"
"Your watch is slow!" replied Fix.
"My watch! A family watch that has come down from my great-grandfather! It don't vary five minutes in the year. It is a genuine chronometer."
"I see what is the matter." replied Fix. "You have kept London time, which is about two hours slower than Suez. You must set your watch at noon in each country."
"What! I touch my watch!" cried Passepartout. "Never."
