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AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS(环游世界80天)-第5部分
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。 The detective was evidently inspired by the hope of obtaining the splendid reward which would be the prize of sucomess; and awaited with a feverish impatience; easy to understand; the arrival of the steamer ‘Mongolia'。
‘So you say; consul;' asked he for the twentieth time; ‘that this steamer is never behind time?'
‘No; Mr Fix;' replied the consul。 ‘She was bespoken yesterday at Port Said; and the rest of the way is of no acomount to such a craft。 I repeat that the ‘Mongolia' has been in advance of the time required by the company's regulations; and gained the prize awarded for excess of speed。'
‘Does she come directly from Brindisi?'
‘Directly from Brindisi; she takes on the Indian mails there; and she left there Saturday at five p。m。 Have patience; Mr Fix; she will not be late。 But really I don't see how; frthe description you have; you will be able to recognize your man; even if he is on board the 〃Mongolia〃。'
‘A man rather feels the presence of these fellows; consul; than recognizes them。 You must have a scent for them; and a scent is like a sixth sense which combines hearing; seeing and smelling。 I've arrested more than one of these gentlemen in my time; and if my thief is on board; I'll answer for it; he'll not slip through my fingers。'
‘I hope so; Mr Fix; for it was a heavy robbery。'
‘A magnificent robbery; consul; fifty…five thousand pounds! We don't often have such windfalls。 Burglars are getting to be so contemptible nowadays! A fellow gets hung for a handful of shillings!'
‘Mr Fix;' said the consul; ‘I like your way of talking; and hope you'll sucomeed; but I fear you will find it far from easy。 Don't you see; the description which you have there has a singular resemblance to an honest man?'
‘Consul;' remarked the detective; dogmatically; great robbers always resemble honest folks。 Fellows who have rascally faces have only one course to take; and that is to remain honest; otherwise they would be arrested off…hand。 The artistic thing is; to unmask honest countenances; it's no light task; I admit; but a real art。'
Mr Fix evidently was not wanting in a tinge of self…conceit。
Little by little the scene on the quay became more animated; sailors of various nations; merchants; shipbrokers; porters; fellahs; bustled to and fro as if the steamer were immediately expected。 The weather was clear; and slightly chilly。 The minarets of the town loomed above the houses in the pale rays of the sun。 A jetty pier; some two thousand yards along; extended into the roadstead。 A number of fishing…smacks and coasting boats; some retaining the fantastic fashion of ancient galleys; were discernible on the Red Sea。
As he passed among the busy crowd; Fix; acomording to habit; scrutinized the passers…by with a keen; rapid glance。
It was now half…past ten。
‘The steamer doesn't come!' he exclaimed; as the port clock struck。
‘She can't be far off now;' returned his companion。
‘How long will she stop at Suez?'
‘Four hours; long enough to get in her coal。 It is thirteen hundred and ten miles from Suez to Aden; at the other end of the Red Sea; and she has to take in a fresh coal supply。'
‘And does she go from Suez directly to Bombay?'
‘Without putting in anywhere。'
‘Good;' said Fix。 ‘If the robber is on board he will no doubt get off at Suez; so as to reach the Dutch or French colonies in Asia by some other route。 He ought to know that he would not be safe an hour in India; which is English soil。'
‘Unless;' objected the consul; ‘he is exceptionally shrewd。 An English criminal; you know; is always better concealed in London than anywhere else。'
This observation furnished the detective food for thought; and meanwhile the consul went away to his office。 Fix; left alone; was more impatient than ever; having a presentiment that the robber was on board the ‘Mongolia'。 If he had indeed left London intending to reach the New World he would naturally take the route via India; which was less watched and more difficult to watch than that of the Atlantic。 But Fix's reflections were soon interrupted by a sucomession of sharp whistles; which announced the arrival of the ‘Mongolia'。 The porters and fellahs rushed down the quay; and a dozen boats pushed off from the shore to go and meet the steamer。 Soon her gigantic hull appeared passing along between the banks; and eleven o'clock struck as she anchored in the road。 She brought an unusual number of passengers; some of whom remained on deck to scan the picturesque panorama of the town; while the greater part disembarked in the boats; and landed on the quay。
Fix took up a position; and carefully examined each face and figure which made its appearance。 Presently one of the passengers; after vigorously pushing his way through the importunate crowd of porters; came up to him and politely asked if he could point out the English consulate; at the same time showing a passport which he wished to have visaed。 Fix instinctively took the passport; and with a rapid glance read the description of its bearer。 An involuntary motion of surprise nearly escaped him; for the description in the passport was identical with that of the bank robber which he had received from Scotland Yard。
‘Is this your passport?' asked he。
‘No; it's my master's。'
‘And your master is……'
‘He stayed on board。'
‘But he must go to the consul's in person; so as to establish his identity。'
‘Oh; is that necessary?'
‘Quite indispensable。'
‘And where is the consulate?'
‘There; on the corner of the square;' said Fix; pointing to a house two hundred steps off。
‘I'll go and fetch my master; who won't be much pleased; however; to be disturbed。'
The passenger bowed to Fix; and returned to the Steamer。
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CHAPTER VII
WHICH ONCE MORE DEMONSTRATES THE USELESSNESS OF PASSPORTS AS AIDS TO DETECTIVES。
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
The detective passed down the quay; and rapidly made his way to the consul's office; where he was at once admitted to the presence of that official。
‘Consul;' said he; without preamble; ‘I have strong reasons for believing that my man is a passenger on the 〃Mongolia〃。' And he narrated what had just passed concerning the passport。
‘Well; Mr Fix;' replied the consul; ‘I shall not be sorry to see the rascal's face; but perhaps he won't come here; … that is; if he is the person you suppose him to be。 A robber doesn't quite like to leave traces of his flight behind him; and; besides; he is not obliged to have his passport countersigned。'
‘If he is as shrewd as I think he is; consul; he will come。'
‘To have his passport visaed?'
‘Yes。 Passports are only good for annoying honest folks; and aiding in the flight of rogues。 I assure you it will be quite the thing for him to do; but I hope you will not visa the passport。'
‘Why not? If the passport is genuine I have no right to refuse。'
‘Still; I must keep this man here until I can get a warrant to arrest him from London。'
‘Ah; that's your look…out。 But I cannot……'
The consul did not finish his sentence; for as he spoke a knock was heard at the door; and two strangers entered; one of whom was the servant whom Fix had met on the quay。 The other; who was his master; held out his passport with the request that the consul would do him the favour to visa it。 The consul took the document and carefully read it; whilst Fix observed; or rather devoured; the stranger with his eyes from a corner of the room。
‘You are Mr Phileas Fogg?' said the consul; after reading the passport。
‘I am。'
‘And this man is your servant?'
‘He is; a Frenchman; named Passepartout。'
‘You are from London?'
‘Yes。'
‘And you are going……'
‘To Bombay。'
‘Very good; sir。 You know that a visa is useless; and that no passport is required?'
‘I know it; sir;' replied Phileas Fogg; ‘But I wish to prove; by your visa; that I came by Suez。'
‘Very well; Sir。'
The consul proceeded to sign and date the passport; alter which he added his official seal。 Mr Fogg paid the customary fee; coldly bowed; and went out; followed by his servant。
‘Well?' queried the detective。
‘Well; he looks and acts like a perfectly honest man;' replied the consul。
‘Possibly; but that is not the question。 Do you think; consul; that this phlegmatic gentleman resembles; feature by feature; the robber whose description I have received?'
‘I concede that; but then; you know; all descriptions……'
‘I'll make certain of it;' interrupted Fix。 ‘The servant seems to me less mysterious than the master; besides; he's a Frenchman; and can't help talking。 Excuse me for a little while; consul。'
Fix started off in search of Passepartout。
Meanwhile Mr Fogg; after leaving the consulate; repaired to the quay; gave some orders to Passepartout; went off to the ‘Mongolia' in a boat; and descended to his cabin。 He took up his note…book; which contained the following memoranda:……
‘Left London; Wednesday; October 2nd; at 8。45 p。m。
‘Reached Paris; Thursday; October 3rd; at 7。20 a。m。
‘Left Paris; Thursday; at 8。40 a。m。
‘Reached Turin by Mont Cenis; Friday; October 4th; at 6。35 a。m。
‘Left Turin; Friday; at 7。20 a。m。
‘Arrived at Brindisi; Saturday; October 5th; at 4 p。m。
‘Sailed on the 〃Mongolia〃; Saturday; at 5 p。m。
‘Reached Suez; Wednesday; October 9th; at 11 a。m。
‘Total of hours spent; 1581/2; or; in days; six days and a half。
These dates were inscribed in an itinerary divided into columns; indicating the month; the day of the month; and the day for the stipulated and actual arrivals at each principal point; … Paris; Brindisi; Suez; Bombay; Calcutta; Singapore; Hong Kong; Yokohama; San Francisco; New York; and London; … from the 2nd of October to the 21st of December; and giving a space for setting down the gain made or the loss suffered on arrival at each locality。 This methodical record thus contained an acomount of everything needed; and Mr Fogg always knew whether he was behindhand or in advance of his time。 On this Friday; October 9th; he noted his arrival at Suez; and observed that he had as yet neither gained nor lost。 He sat down quietly to breakfast in his cabin; never once thinking of inspecting the town; being one of those Englishmen who are wo
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