One day the engineer came on deck and spoke anxiously to Mr. Fogg. This consultation made Passe-partout very uneasy; he would have given his ears to have heard what they were saying; he managed to catch a few words, and heard his master say, "Are you sure?"
"Quite certain," replied the engineer; "you must not forget that we have been piling up the fire ever since we left, and though we had sufficient coal to go under easy steam to Bordeaux, we had not enough to carry us to Liverpool at full pressure."
"I will think about it," said Mr. Fogg; and then Passe-partout understood it all.
The coal was failing!
"If my master can get over this," he thought, "he will be a clever fellow."
He was so agitated he could not help imparting his knowledge to Fix, who replied, "Then you really think we are going to Liverpool?"
"Of course we are."
"You idiot!" replied the detective, shrugging his shoulders, as he turned away.
Passe-partout would have revenged himself for this insult if he had not reflected that the unlucky Fix was very probably disappointed and humiliated at having followed a false scent all the way round the world.
But what would Phileas Fogg do now? No one could say; but he himself appeared as cool as ever, and to have decided, for he told the engineer, the same evening, to keep the full-steam on till the coal was exhausted.