"I believe you. Last Wednesday evening at eight o'clock, Mr. Fogg came home from his club, and in three-quarters of an hour afterwards we started."
"But where is your master going to?"
"Straight ahead—he is going round the world."
"Going round the world!" exclaimed Fix.
"Yes, in eighty days. He says it is for a wager, but between ourselves, I don't believe a word of it. It is not common-sense. There must be some other reason."
"This master of yours is quite an original, I should think."
"Rather," replied the valet.
"Is he very rich?"
"He must be; and he carries a large sum with him, all in new bank-notes. He never spares expense. He promised a large reward to the engineer of the Mongolia if he reached Bombay well in advance of time."
"Have you known your master long?"