第1章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS",免费读到尾

  CHAPTERIINWHICHPHILEASFOGGANDPASSEPARTOUTACCEPTEACHOTHER,THEONEASMASTER,THEOTHERASMAN。

  MrPhileasFogglived,in1872,atNo。7,SavilleRow,BurlingtonGardens,thehouseinwhichSheridandiedin1814。HewasoneofthemostnoticeablemembersoftheReformClub,thoughheseemedalwaystoavoidattractingattention;anenigmaticalpersonage,aboutwhomlittlewasknown,exceptthathewasapolishedmanoftheworld。PeoplesaidthatheresembledByron,-atleastthathisheadwasByronic;buthewasabearded,tranquilByron,whomightliveonathousandyearswithoutgrowingold。

  CertainlyanEnglishman,itwasmoredoubtfulwhetherPhileasFoggwasaLondoner。Hewasneverseenon`Change,norattheBank,norinthecounting-roomsofthe`City\';noshipsevercameintoLondondocksofwhichhewastheowner;hehadnopublicemployment;hehadneverbeenenteredatanyoftheInnsofCourt,eitherattheTemple,orLincoln\'sInn,orGray\'sInn;

  norhadhisvoiceeverresoundedintheCourtofChancery,orintheExchequer,ortheQueen\'sBench,ortheEcclesiasticalCourts。Hecertainlywasnotamanufacturer;norwasheamerchantoragentlemanfarmer。Hisnamewasstrangetothescientificandlearnedsocieties,andheneverwasknowntotakepartinthesagedeliberationsoftheRoyalInstitutionortheLondonInstitution,theArtisan\'sAssociationortheInstitutionofArtsandSciences。Hebelonged,infact,tononeofthenumeroussocietieswhichswarmintheEnglishcapital,fromtheHarmonictothatoftheEntomologists,foundedmainlyforthepurposeofabolishingperniciousinsects。

  PhileasFoggwasamemberoftheReform,andthatwasall。

  Thewayinwhichhegotadmissiontothisexclusiveclubwassimpleenough。

  HewasrecommendedbytheBarings,withwhomhehadanopencredit。

  Hischequeswereregularlypaidatsightfromhisaccountcurrent,whichwasalwaysflush。

  WasPhileasFoggrich?Undoubtedly。Butthosewhoknewhimbestcouldnotimaginehowhehadmadehisfortune,andMrFoggwasthelastpersontowhomtoapplyfortheinformation。Hewasnotlavish,nor,onthecontrary,avaricious;forwheneverheknewthatmoneywasneededforanoble,useful,orbenevolentpurpose,hesupplieditquietlyandsometimesanonymously。

  Hewas,inshort,theleastcommunicativeofmen。Hetalkedverylittleandseemedallthemoremysteriousforhistaciturnmanner。Hisdailyhabitswerequiteopentoobservation;butwhateverhedidwassoexactlythesamethingthathehadalwaysdonebefore,thatthewitsofthecuriouswerefairlypuzzled。

  Hadhetravelled?Itwaslikely,fornooneseemedtoknowtheworldmorefamiliarly;therewasnospotsosecludedthathedidnotappeartohaveanintimateacquaintancewithit。Heoftencorrected,withafewclearwords,thethousandconjecturesadvancedbymembersoftheclubastolostandunheard-oftravellers,pointingoutthetrueprobabilities,andseemingasifgiftedwithasortofsecondsight,sooftendideventsjustifyhispredictions。Hemusthavetravelledeverywhere,atleastinthespirit。

  ItwasatleastcertainthatPhileasFogghadnotabsentedhimselffromLondonformanyyears。Thosewhowerehonouredbyabetteracquaintancewithhimthantherest,declaredthatnobodycouldpretendtohaveeverseenhimanywhereelse。Hissolepastimeswerereadingthepapersandplayingwhist。Heoftenwonatthisgame,which,asasilentone,harmonizedwithhisnature;buthiswinningsneverwentintohispurse,beingreservedasafundforhischarities。MrFoggplayed,nottowin,butforthesakeofplaying。Thegamewasinhiseyesacontest,strugglewithadifficulty,yetamotionless,unwearyingstruggle,congenialtohistastes。

  PhileasFoggwasnotknowntohaveeitherwifeorchildren,whichmayhappentothemosthonestpeople;eitherrelativesornearfriends,whichiscertainlymoreunusual。HelivedaloneinhishouseinSavilleRow,whithernonepenetrated。Asingledomesticsufficedtoservehim。Hebreakfastedanddinedattheclub,athoursmathematicallyfixed,inthesameroom,atthesametable,nevertakinghismealswithothermembers,muchlessbringingaguestwithhim;andwenthomeatexactlymidnight,onlytoretireatoncetobed。HeneverusedthecosychamberswhichtheReformprovidesforitsfavouredmembers。Hepassedtenhoursoutofthetwenty-fourinSavilleRow,eitherinsleepingormakinghistoilet。Whenhechosetotakeawalkitwaswitharegularstepintheentrancehallwithitsmosaicflooring,orinthecirculargallerywithitsdomesupportedbytwentyredporphyryIoniccolumns,andilluminedbybluepaintedwindows。Whenhebreakfastedordinedalltheresourcesoftheclub-itskitchensandpantries,itsbutteryanddairy-aidedtocrowdhistablewiththeirmostsucculentstores;hewasservedbythegravestwaiters,indresscoats,andshoeswithswan-skinsoles,whoprofferedtheviandsinspecialporcelain,andonthefinestlinen;clubdecanters,ofalostmould,containedhissherry,hisport,andhiscinnamon-spicedclaret;whilehisbeverageswererefreshinglycooledwithice,broughtatgreatcostfromtheAmericanlakes。

  Iftoliveinthisstyleistobeeccentric,itmustbeconfessedthatthereissomethinggoodineccentricity。

  ThemansioninSavilleRow,thoughnotsumptuous,wasexceedinglycomfortable。

  Thehabitsofitsoccupantweresuchastodemandbutlittlefromthesoledomestic,butPhileasFoggrequiredhimtobealmostsuperhumanlypromptandregular。Onthisvery2ndofOctoberhehaddismissedJamesForster,becausethatlucklessyouthhadbroughthimshaving-waterateighty-fourdegreesFahrenheitinsteadofeighty-six;andhewasawaitinghissuccessor,whowasdueatthehousebetweenelevenandhalf-past。

  PhileasFoggwasseatedsquarelyinhisarmchair,hisfeetclosetogetherlikethoseofagrenadieronparade,hishandsrestingonhisknees,hisbodystraight,hisheaderect;hewassteadilywatchingacomplicatedclockwhichindicatedthehours,theminutes,theseconds,thedays,themonths,andtheyears。Atexactlyhalf-pastelevenMrFoggwould,accordingtohisdailyhabit,quitSavilleRow,andrepairtotheReform。

  ArapatthismomentsoundedonthedoorofthecosyapartmentwherePhileasFoggwasseated,andJamesForster,thedismissedservant,appeared。

  `Thenewservant,\'saidhe。

  Ayoungmanofthirtyadvancedandbowed。

  `YouareaFrenchman,Ibelieve,\'askedPhileasFogg,`andyournameisJohn?\'

  `Jean,ifmonsieurpleases,\'repliedthenewcomer,`JeanPassepartout,asurnamewhichhasclungtomebecauseIhaveanaturalaptnessforgoingoutofonebusinessintoanother。IbelieveI\'mhonest,monsieur,but,tobeoutspoken,I\'vehadseveraltrades。I\'vebeenanitinerantsinger,acircus-rider,whenIusedtovaultlikeLeotard,anddanceonaropelikeBlondin。ThenIgottobeaprofessorofgymnastics,soastomakebetteruseofmytalents;andthenIwasasergeantfiremanatParis,andassistedatmanyabigfire。ButIquittedFrancefiveyearsagoand,wishingtotastethesweetsofdomesticlife,tookserviceasavalethereinEngland。

  Findingmyselfoutofplace,andhearingthatMonsieurPhileasFoggwasthemostexactandsettledgentlemanintheUnitedKingdom,Ihavecometomonsieurinthehopeoflivingwithhimatranquillife,andforgettingeventhenameofPassepartout。\'

  `Passepartoutsuitsme,\'respondedMrFogg。`Youarewellrecommendedtome;Ihearagoodreportofyou。Youknowmyconditions?\'

  `Yes,monsieur。\'

  `Good。Whattimeisit?\'

  `Twenty-twominutesaftereleven,\'returnedPassepartout,drawinganenormoussilverwatchfromthedepthsofhispocket。

  `Youaretooslow,\'saidMrFogg。

  `Pardonme,monsieur,itisimpossible——\'

  `Youarefourminutestooslow。Nomatter;it\'senoughtomentiontheerror。Nowfromthismoment,twenty-nineminutesaftereleven,a。m。,thisWednesday,October2nd,youareinmyservice。\'

  PhileasFogggotup,tookhishatinhislefthand,putitonhisheadwithanautomaticmotion,andwentoffwithoutaword。

  Passepartoutheardthestreetdoorshutonce;itwashisnewmastergoingout。Hehearditshutagain;itwashispredecessor,JamesForster,departinginhisturn。PassepartoutremainedaloneinthehouseinSavilleRow。

  CHAPTERIIINWHICHPASSEPARTOUTISCONVINCEDTHATHEHASATLASTFOUNDHISIDEAL。

  `Faith,\'mutteredPassepartout,somewhatflurried,`I\'veseenpeopleatMadameTussaud\'saslivelyasmynewmaster!\'

  MadameTussaud\'s`people,\'letitbesaid,areofwax,andaremuchvisitedinLondon;speechisallthatiswantingtomakethemhuman。

  DuringhisbriefinterviewwithMrFogg,Passepartouthadbeencarefullyobservinghim。Heappearedtobeamanaboutfortyyearsofage,withfine,handsomefeatures,andatall,well-shapedfigure;hishairandwhiskerswerelight,hisforeheadcompactandunwrinkled,hisfaceratherpale,histeethmagnificent。Hiscountenancepossessedinthehighestdegreewhatphysiognomistscall`reposeinaction,\'aqualityofthosewhoactratherthantalk。Calmandphlegmatic,withacleareye,MrFoggseemedaperfecttypeofthatEnglishcomposurewhichAngelicaKauffmannhassoskilfullyrepresentedoncanvas。Seeninthevariousphasesofhisdailylife,hegavetheideaofbeingperfectlywell-balanced,asexactlyregulatedasaLeroychronometer。PhileasFoggwas,indeed,exactitudepersonified,andthiswasbetrayedevenintheexpressionofhisveryhandsandfeet;

  forinmen,aswellasinanimals,thelimbsthemselvesareexpressiveofthepassions。

  Hewassoexactthathewasneverinahurry,wasalwaysready,andwaseconomicalalikeofhisstepsandhismotions。Henevertookonesteptoomany,andalwayswenttohisdestinationbytheshortestcut;hemadenosuperfluousgestures,andwasneverseentobemovedoragitated。Hewasthemostdeliberatepersonintheworld,yetalwaysreachedhisdestinationattheexactmoment。

  Helivedalone,andsotospeak,outsideofeverysocialrelation;andasheknewthatinthisworldaccountmustbetakenoffriction,andthatfrictionretards,heneverrubbedagainstanybody。

  AsforPassepartout,hewasatrueParisianofParis。SincehehadabandonedhisowncountryforEngland,takingserviceasavalet,hehadinvainsearchedforamasterafterhisownheart。PassepartoutwasbynomeansoneofthosepertduncesdepictedbyMolière,withaboldgazeandanoseheldhighintheair;hewasanhonestfellow,withapleasantface,lipsatrifleprotruding,soft-manneredandserviceable,withagoodroundhead,suchasonelikestoseeontheshouldersofafriend。Hiseyeswereblue,hiscomplexionrubicund,hisfigurealmostportlyandwell-built,hisbodymuscular,andhisphysicalpowersfullydevelopedbytheexercisesofhisyoungerdays。Hisbrownhairwassomewhattumbled;

  forwhiletheancientsculptorsaresaidtohaveknowneighteenmethodsofarrangingMinerva\'stresses,Passepartoutwasfamiliarwithbutoneofdressinghisown:threestrokesofalarge-toothcombcompletedhistoilet。

  ItwouldberashtopredicthowPassepartout\'slivelynaturewouldagreewithMrFogg。Itwasimpossibletotellwhetherthenewservantwouldturnoutasabsolutelymethodicalashismasterrequired;experiencealonecouldsolvethequestion。Passepartouthadbeenasortofvagrantinhisearlyyears,andnowyearnedforrepose;butsofarhehadfailedtofindit,thoughhehadalreadyservedintenEnglishhouses。Buthecouldnottakerootinanyofthese;withchagrinhefoundhismastersinvariablywhimsicalandirregular,constantlyrunningaboutthecountry,oronthelook-outforadventure。Hislastmaster,youngLordLongferry,MemberofParliament,afterpassinghisnightsintheHaymarkettaverns,wastoooftenbroughthomeinthemorningonpolicemen\'sshoulders。Passepartout,desirousofrespectingthegentlemanwhomheserved,venturedamildremonstranceonsuchconduct;whichbeingill-received,hetookhisleave。HearingthatMrPhileasFoggwaslookingforaservant,andthathislifewasoneofunbrokenregularity,thatheneithertravellednorstayedfromhomeovernight,hefeltsurethatthiswouldbetheplacehewasafter。Hepresentedhimself,andwasaccepted,ashasbeenseen。

  Athalf-pasteleven,then,PassepartoutfoundhimselfaloneinthehouseinSavilleRow。Hebeganitsinspectionwithoutdelay,scouringitfromcellartogarret。Soclean,well-arranged,solemnamansionpleasedhim;

  itseemedtohimlikeasnail\'sshell,lightedandwarmedbygas,whichsufficedforboththesepurposes。WhenPassepartoutreachedthesecondstoreyherecognizedatoncetheroomwhichhewastoinhabit,andhewaswellsatisfiedwithit。Electricbellsandspeakingtubesaffordedcommunicationwiththelowerstories;whileonthemantelstoodanelectricclock,preciselylikethatinMrFogg\'sbedchamber,bothbeatingthesamesecondatthesameinstant。`That\'sgood,that\'lldo,\'saidPassepartouttohimself。

  Hesuddenlyobserved,hungovertheclock,acardwhich,uponinspection,provedtobeaprogrammeofthedailyroutineofthehouse。Itcomprisedallthatwasrequiredoftheservant,fromeightinthemorning,exactlyatwhichhourPhileasFoggrose,tillhalf-pasteleven,whenheleftthehousefortheReformClub,-allthedetailsofservice,theteaandtoastattwenty-threeminutespasteight,theshaving-wateratthirty-sevenminutespastnine,andthetoiletattwentyminutesbeforeten。Everythingwasregulatedandforeseenthatwastobedonefromhalf-pastelevena。m。tillmidnight,thehouratwhichthemethodicalgentlemanretired。

  MrFogg\'swardrobewasamplysuppliedandinthebesttaste。Eachpairoftrousers,coat,andvestboreanumber,indicatingthetimeofyearandseasonatwhichtheywereinturntobelaidoutforwearing;andthesamesystemwasappliedtothemaster\'sshoes。Inshort,thehouseinSavilleRow,whichmusthavebeenaverytempleofdisorderandunrestundertheillustriousbutdissipatedSheridan,wascosiness,comfort,andmethodidealized。Therewasnostudy,norweretherebooks,whichwouldhavebeenquiteuselesstoMrFogg;forattheReformtwolibraries,oneofgeneralliteratureandtheotheroflawandpolitics,wereathisservice。Amoderatesizedsafestoodinhisbedroom,constructedsoastodefyfireaswellasburglars;butPassepartoutfoundneitherarmsnorhuntingweaponsanywhere;

  everythingbetrayedthemosttranquilandpeaceablehabits。

  Havingscrutinizedthehousefromtoptobottom,herubbedhishands,abroadsmileoverspreadhisfeatures,andhesaidjoyfully,`ThisisjustwhatIwanted!Ah,weshallgetontogether,MrFoggandI!Whatadomesticandregulargentleman!Arealmachine;well,Idon\'tmindservingamachine。\'

  CHAPTERIIIINWHICHACONVERSATIONTAKESPLACEWHICHSEEMSLIKELYTOCOSTPHILEAS

  FOGGDEAR。

  PhileasFogg,havingshutthedoorofhishouseathalf-pasteleven,andhavingputhisrightfootbeforehisleftfivehundredandseventy-fivetimes,andhisleftfootbeforehisrightfivehundredandseventy-sixtimes,reachedtheReformClub,animposingedificeinPallMall,whichcouldnothavecostlessthanthreemillions。Herepairedatoncetothedining-room,theninewindowsofwhichopenuponatastefulgarden,wherethetreeswerealreadygildedwithanautumncolouring;andtookhisplaceatthehabitualtable,thecoverofwhichhadalreadybeenlaidforhim。

  Hisbreakfastconsistedofaside-dish,abroiledfishwithReadingsauce,ascarletsliceofroastbeefgarnishedwithmushrooms,arhubarbandgooseberrytart,andamorselofCheshirecheese,thewholebeingwasheddownwithseveralcupsoftea,forwhichtheReformisfamous。Heroseatthirteenminutestoone,anddirectedhisstepstowardsthelargehall,asumptuousapartmentadornedwithlavishly-framedpaintings。AflunkeyhandedhimanuncutTimes,whichheproceededtocutwithaskillwhichbetrayedfamiliaritywiththisdelicateoperation。TheperusalofthispaperabsorbedPhileasFogguntilaquarterbeforefour,whilsttheStandard,hisnexttask,occupiedhimtillthedinnerhour。Dinnerpassedasbreakfasthaddone,andMrFoggreappearedinthereading-roomandsatdowntothePallMallattwentyminutesbeforesix。Half-an-hourlaterseveralmembersoftheReformcameinanddrewuptothefireplace,whereacoalfirewassteadilyburning。TheywereMrFogg\'susualpartnersatwhist:

  AndrewStuart,anengineer;JohnSullivanandSamuelFallentin,bankers;

  ThomasFlanagan,abrewer;andGauthierRalph,oneoftheDirectorsoftheBankofEngland;-allrichandhighlyrespectablepersonages,eveninaclubwhichcomprisestheprincesofEnglishtradeandfinance。

  `Well,Ralph,\'saidThomasFlanagan,`whataboutthatrobbery?\'

  `Oh,\'repliedStuart;`thebankwilllosethemoney。\'

  `Onthecontrary,\'brokeinRalph,`Ihopewemayputourhandsontherobber。SkilfuldetectiveshavebeensenttoalltheprincipalportsofAmericaandtheContinent,andhe\'llbeacleverfellowifheslipsthroughtheirfingers。\'

  `Buthaveyougottherobber\'sdescription?\'askedStuart。

  `Inthefirstplaceheisnorobberatall,\'returnedRalph,positively。

  `What!afellowwhomakesoffwithfifty-fivethousandpounds,norobber?\'

  `No。\'

  `Perhapshe\'samanufacturer,then。\'

  `TheDailyTelegraphsaysthatheisagentleman。\'

  ItwasPhileasFogg,whoseheadnowemergedfrombehindhisnewspapers,whomadethisremark。Hebowedtohisfriends,andenteredintotheconversation。

  Theaffairwhichformeditssubject,andwhichwastowntalk,hadoccurredthreedaysbeforeattheBankofEngland。Apackageofbank-notes,tothevalueoffifty-fivethousandpounds,hadbeentakenfromtheprincipalcashier\'stable,thatfunctionarybeingatthemomentengagedinregisteringthereceiptofthreeshillingsandsixpence。Ofcoursehecouldnothavehiseyeseverywhere。LetitbeobservedthattheBankofEnglandreposesatouchingconfidenceinthehonestyofthepublic。Thereareneitherguardsnorgratingstoprotectitstreasures;gold,silver,bank-notesarefreelyexposed,atthemerryofthefirstcomer。AkeenobserverofEnglishcustomsrelatesthat,beinginoneoftheroomsoftheBankoneday,hehadthecuriositytoexamineagoldingotweighingsomesevenoreightpounds。

  Hetookitup,scrutinizedit,passedittohisneighbour,hetothenextman,andsoonuntiltheingot,goingfromhandtohand,wastransferredtotheendofadarkentry;nordiditreturntoitsplaceforhalf-an-hour。

  Meanwhile,thecashierhadnotsomuchasraisedhishead。Butinthepresentinstancethingshadnotgonesosmoothly。Thepackageofnotesnotbeingfoundwhenfiveo\'clocksoundedfromtheponderousclockinthe`drawingoffice,\'theamountwaspassedtotheaccountofprofitandloss。Assoonastherobberywasdiscovered,pickeddetectiveshastenedofftoLiverpool,Glasgow,Havre,Suez,Brindisi,NewYork,andotherports,inspiredbytheprofferedrewardoftwothousandpounds,andfivepercentonthesumthatmightberecovered。DetectiveswerealsochargedwithnarrowlywatchingthosewhoarrivedatorleftLondonbyrail,andajudicialexaminationwasatonceenteredupon。

  Therewererealgroundsforsupposing,astheDailyTelegraphsaid,thatthethiefdidnotbelongtoaprofessionalband。Onthedayoftherobberyawell-dressedgentlemanofpolishedmanners,andwithawell-to-doair,hadbeenobservedgoingtoandfrointhepaying-room,wherethecrimewascommitted。Adescriptionofhimwaseasilyprocuredandsenttothedetectives;andsomehopefulspirits,ofwhomRalphwasone,didnotdespairofhisapprehension。Thepapersandclubswerefulloftheaffair,andeverywherepeoplewerediscussingtheprobabilitiesofasuccessfulpursuit;andtheReformClubwasespeciallyagitated,severalofitsmembersbeingBankofficials。

  Ralphwouldnotconcedethattheworkofthedetectiveswaslikelytobeinvain,forhethoughtthattheprizeofferedwouldgreatlystimulatetheirzealandactivity。ButStuartwasfarfromsharingthisconfidence;

  andastheyplacedthemselvesatthewhist-table,theycontinuedtoarguethematter。StuartandFlanaganplayedtogether,whilePhileasFogghadFallentinforhispartner。Asthegameproceededtheconversationceased,exceptingbetweentherubbers,whenitrevivedagain。

  `Imaintain,\'saidStuart,`thatthechancesarefavourofthethief,whomustbeashrewdfellow。\'

  Well,butwherecanheflyto?\'askedRalph。`Nocountryissafeforhim。\'

  `Pshaw!\'

  `Wherecouldhego,then?\'

  `Oh,Idon\'tknowthat。Theworldisbigenough。\'

  `Itwasonce,\'saidPhileasFogg,inalowtone。`Cut,sir,\'headded,handingthecardstoThomasFlanagan。

  Thediscussionfellduringtherubber,afterwhichStuarttookupitsthread。

  `Whatdoyoumeanby\"once\"?Hastheworldgrownsmaller?\'

  `Certainly,\'returnedRalph。`IagreewithMrFogg。Theworldhasgrownsmaller,sinceamancannowgoroundittentimesmorequicklythanahundredyearsago。Andthatiswhythesearchforthisthiefwillbemorelikelytosucceed。\'

  `Andalsowhythethiefcangetawaymoreeasily。\'

  `Besogoodastoplay,MrStuart,\'saidPhileasFogg。

  ButtheincredulousStuartwasnotconvinced,andwhenthehandwasfinished,Saideagerly:`Youhaveastrangeway,Ralph,ofprovingthattheworldhasgrownsmaller。So,becauseyoucangorounditinthreemonths——\'

  `Ineightydays,\'interruptedPhileasFogg。

  `Thatistrue,gentlemen,\'addedJohnSullivan。

  `Onlyeightydays,nowthatthesectionbetweenRothalandAllahabad,ontheGreatIndianPeninsulaRailway,hasbeenopened。HereistheestimatemadebytheDailyTelegraph:——FromLondontoSuezviâMontCenisandBrindisi,byrailandsteamboats7days。

  FromSueztoBombay,bysteamer13\"

  FromBombaytoCalcutta,byrail3\"

  FromCalcuttatoHongKong,bysteamer——13\"

  FromHongKongtoYokohama(Japan),bysteamer——6\"

  FromYokohamatoSanFrancisco,bysteamer————————————————————————————

  22\"

  FromSanFranciscotoNewYork,byrail————————————————————————————-

  7\"

  FromNewYorktoLondon,bysteamerandrail——————————————9\"

  Total————————————-80days。`Yes,ineightydays!\'exclaimedStuart,whoinhisexcitementmadeafalsedeal。`Butthatdoesn\'ttakeintoaccountbadweather,contrarywinds,ship-wrecks,railwayaccidents,andsoon。\'

  `Allincluded,\'returnedPhileasFogg,continuingtoplaydespitethediscussion。

  `ButsupposetheHindoosorIndianspulluptherails,\'repliedStuart;

  `supposetheystopthetrains,pillagetheluggage-vans,andscalpthepassengers!\'

  `Allincluded,\'calmlyretortedFogg;adding,ashethrewdownthecards,`Twotrumps。\'

  Stuart,whoseturnitwastodeal,gatheredthemup,andwenton:`Youareright,theoretically,MrFogg,butpractically——\'

  `Practicallyalso,MrStuart。\'

  `I\'dliketoseeyoudoitineightydays。\'

  `Itdependsonyou。Shallwego?\'

  `Heavenpreserveme!ButIwouldwagerfourthousandpoundsthatsuchajourney,madeundertheseconditions,isimpossible。\'

  `Quitepossible,onthecontrary,\'returnedMrFogg。

  `Well,makeit,then!\'

  `Thejourneyroundtheworldineightydays?\'

  `Yes。\'

  `Ishouldlikenothingbetter。\'

  `When?\'

  `Atonce。OnlyIwarnyouthatIshalldoitatyourexpense。\'

  `It\'sabsurd!\'criedStuart,whowasbeginningtobeannoyedatthepersistencyofhisfriend。`Come,let\'sgoonwiththegame。\'

  `Dealoveragain,then,\'saidPhileasFogg。`There\'safalsedeal。\'

  Stuarttookupthepackwithafeverishhand;thensuddenlyputthemdownagain。

  `Well,MrFogg,\'saidhe,`itshallbeso:Iwillwagerthefourthousandonit。\'

  `Calmyourself,mydearStuart,\'saidFallentin。`It\'sonlyajoke。\'

  `WhenIsayI\'llwager,\'returnedStuart,`Imeanit。\'

  `Allright,\'saidMrFogg;andturningtotheothershecontinued:`I

  haveadepositoftwentythousandatBaring\'swhichIwillwillinglyriskuponit。\'

  `Twentythousandpounds!\'criedSullivan。`Twentythousandpounds,whichyouwouldlosebyasingleaccidentaldelay!\'

  `Theunforeseendoesnotexist,\'quietlyrepliedPhileasFogg。

  `But,MrFogg,eightydaysareonlytheestimateoftheleastpossibletimeinwhichthejourneycanbemade。\'

  `Awell-usedminimumsufficesforeverything。\'

  `But,inordernottoexceedit,youmustjumpmathematicallyfromthetrainsuponthesteamers,andfromthesteamersuponthetrainsagain。\'

  `Iwilljump-mathematically。\'

  `Youarejoking。\'

  `AtrueEnglishmandoesn\'tjokewhenheistalkingaboutsoseriousathingasawager,\'repliedPhileasFogg,solemnly。`Iwillbettwentythousandpoundsagainstanyonewhowishes,thatIwillmakethetouroftheworldineightydaysorless;innineteenhundredandtwentyhours,orahundredandfifteenthousandtwohundredminutes。Doyouaccept?\'

  `Weaccept,\'repliedMessrsStuart,Fallentin,Sullivan,Flanagan,andRalph,afterconsultingeachother。

  `Good,\'saidMrFogg。`ThetrainleavesforDoverataquarterbeforenine。Iwilltakeit。\'

  `Thisveryevening?\'askedStuart。

  `Thisveryevening,\'returnedPhileasFogg。Hetookoutandconsultedapocketalmanac,andadded,`Asto-dayisWednesday,thesecondofOctober,IshallbedueinLondon,inthisveryroomoftheReformClub,onSaturday,thetwenty-firstofDecember,ataquarterbeforeninep。m。;orelsethetwentythousandpounds,nowdepositedinmynameatBaring\'s,willbelongtoyou,infactandinright,gentlemen。Hereisachequefortheamount。\'

  Amemorandumofthewagerwasatoncedrawnupandsignedbythesixparties,duringwhichPhileasFoggpreservedastoicalcomposure。Hecertainlydidnotbettowin,andhadonlystakedthetwentythousandpounds,halfofhisfortune,becauseheforesawthathemighthavetoexpendtheotherhalftocarryoutthisdifficult,nottosayunattainable,project。Asforhisantagonists,theyseemedmuchagitated;notsomuchbythevalueoftheirstake,asbecausetheyhadsomescruplesaboutbettingunderconditionssodifficulttotheirfriend。

  Theclockstruckseven,andthepartyofferedtosuspendthegamesothatMrFoggmightmakehispreparationsfordeparture。

  `Iamquitereadynow,\'washistranquilresponse。

  `Diamondsaretrumps:besogoodastoplay,gentlemen。\'

  CHAPTERIVINWHICHPHILEASFOGGASTOUNDSPASSEPARTOUT,HISSERVANT。

  Havingwontwentyguineasatwhist,andtakenleaveofhisfriends,PhileasFogg,attwenty-fiveminutespastseven,lefttheReformClub。

  Passepartout,whohadconscientiouslystudiedtheprogrammeofhisduties,wasmorethansurprisedtoseehismasterguiltyoftheinexactnessofappearingatthisunaccustomedhour;for,accordingtorule,hewasnotdueinSavilleRowuntilpreciselymidnight。

  MrFoggrepairedtohisbedroom,andcalledout,`Passepartout!\'

  Passepartoutdidnotreply。Itcouldnotbehewhowascalled;itwasnottherighthour。

  `Passepartout!\'repeatedMrFogg,withoutraisinghisvoice。

  Passepartoutmadehisappearance。

  `I\'vecalledyoutwice,\'observedhismaster。

  `Butitisnotmidnight,\'respondedtheother,showinghiswatch。

  `Iknowit;Idon\'tblameyou。WestartforDoverandCalaisintenminutes。\'

  ApuzzledgrinoverspreadPassepartout\'sroundface,clearlyhehadnotcomprehendedhismaster。

  `Monsieurisgoingtoleavehome?\'

  `Yes,\'returnedPhileasFogg。`Wearegoingroundtheworld。\'

  Passepartoutopenedwidehiseyes,raisedhiseyebrows,helduphishands,andseemedabouttocollapse,soovercomewashewithstupefiedastonishment。

  `Roundtheworld!\'hemurmured。

  `Ineightydays,\'respondedMrFogg。`Sowehaven\'tamomenttolose。\'

  `Butthetrunks?\'gaspedPassepartout,unconsciouslyswayinghisheadfromrighttoleft。

  `We\'llhavenotrunks;onlyacarpet-bag,withtwoshirtsandthreepairsofstockingsforme,andthesameforyou。We\'llbuyourclothesontheway。Bringdownmymackintoshandtravelling-cloak,andsomestoutshoes,thoughweshalldolittlewalking。Makehaste!\'

  Passepartouttriedtoreply,butcouldnot。Hewentout,mountedtohisownroom,fellintoachair,andmuttered:`That\'sgood,thatis!AndI,whowantedtoremainquiet!\'

  Hemechanicallysetaboutmakingthepreparationsfordeparture。Aroundtheworldineightydays!Washismasterafool?No。Wasthisajoke,then?

  TheyweregoingtoDover;good。ToCalais;goodagain。Afterall,Passepartout,whohadbeenawayfromFrancefiveyears,wouldnotbesorrytosetfootonhisnativesoilagain。PerhapstheywouldgoasfarasParis,anditwoulddohiseyesgoodtoseeParisoncemore。Butsurelyagentlemansocharyofhisstepswouldstopthere;nodoubt,-but,then,itwasnonethelesstruethathewasgoingaway,thissodomesticpersonhitherto!

  Byeighto\'clockPassepartouthadpackedthemodestcarpet-bag,containingthewardrobesofhismasterandhimself;then,stilltroubledinmind,hecarefullyshutthedoorofhisroom,anddescendedtoMrFogg。

  MrFoggwasquiteready。Underhisarmmighthavebeenobservedared-boundcopyof`Bradshaw\'sContinentalRailwaySteamTransitandGeneralGuide,\'

  withitstime-tablesshowingthearrivalanddepartureofsteamersandrailways。Hetookthecarpet-bag,openedit,andslippedintoitagoodlyrollofBankofEnglandnotes,whichwouldpasswhereverhemightgo。

  `Youhaveforgottennothing?\'askedhe。

  `Nothing,monsieur。\'

  `Mymackintoshandcloak?\'

  `Heretheyare。\'

  `Good。Takethiscarpet-bag,\'handingittoPassepartout。`Takegoodcareofit,fortherearetwentythousandpoundsinit。\'

  Passepartoutnearlydroppedthebag,asifthetwentythousandpoundswereingold,andweightedhimdown。

  Masterandmanthendescended,thestreet-doorwasdouble-locked,andattheendofSavilleRowtheytookacabanddroverapidlytoCharingCross。Thecabstoppedbeforetherailwaystationattwentyminutespasteight。Passepartoutjumpedofftheboxandfollowedhismaster,who,afterpayingthecabman,wasabouttoenterthestation,whenapoorbeggar-woman,withachildinherarms,hernakedfeetsmearedwithmud,herheadcoveredwithawretchedbonnet,fromwhichhungatatteredfeather,andhershouldersshroudedinaraggedshawl,approached,andmournfullyaskedforalms。

  MrFoggtookoutthetwentyguineashehadjustwonatwhist,andhandedthemtothebeggar,saying,`Here,mygoodwoman。I\'mgladthatImetyou\';

  andpassedon。

  Passepartouthadamoistsensationabouttheeyes;hismastersactiontouchedhissusceptibleheart。

  Twofirst-classticketsforParishavingbeenspeedilypurchased,MrFoggwascrossingthestationtothetrain,whenheperceivedhisfivefriendsoftheReform。

  `Well,gentlemen,\'saidhe,`I\'moff,yousee;andifyouwillexaminemypassportwhenIgetback,youwillbeabletojudgewhetherIhaveaccomplishedthejourneyagreedupon。\'

  `Oh,thatwouldbequiteunnecessary,MrFogg,\'saidRalphpolitely。

  `Wewilltrustyourword,asagentlemanofhonour。\'

  `YoudonotforgetwhenyouaredueinLondonagain?\'askedStuart。

  `Ineightydays;onSaturday,the21stofDecember,1872,ataquarterbeforeninep。m。Good-bye,gentlemen。

  PhileasFoggandhisservantseatedthemselvesinafirst-classcarriageattwentyminutesbeforenine;fiveminuteslaterthewhistlescreamed,andthetrainslowlyglidedoutoftheStation。

  Thenightwasdark,andafine,steadyrainwasfalling。PhileasFogg,snuglyensconcedinhiscorner,didnotopenhislips。Passepartout,notyetrecoveredfromhisstupefaction,clungmechanicallytothecarpet-bag,withitsenormoustreasure。

  JustasthetrainwaswhirlingthroughSydenham,Passepartoutsuddenlyutteredacryofdespair。

  `What\'sthematter?\'askedMrFogg。

  `Alas!Inmyhurry-I-Iforgot——\'

  `What?\'

  `Toturnoffthegasinmyroom!\'

  `Verywell,youngman,\'returnedMrFogg,coolly;`itwillburn-atyourexpense。\'

  CHAPTERVINWHICHANEWSPECIESOFFUNDS,UNKNOWNTOTHEMONEYEDMEN,APPEARSON

  \'CHANGE。

  PhileasFoggrightlysuspectedthathisdeparturefromLondonwouldcreatealivelysensationattheWestEnd。ThenewsofthebetspreadthroughtheReformClub,andaffordedanexcitingtopicofconversationtoitsmembers。FromtheClubitsoongotintothepapersthroughoutEngland。

  Theboasted`touroftheworld\'wastalkedabout,disputed,arguedwithasmuchwarmthasifthesubjectwereanotherAlabamaclaim。SometooksideswithPhileasFogg,butthelargemajorityshooktheirheadsanddeclaredagainsthim;itwasabsurd,impossible,theydeclared,thatthetouroftheworldcouldbemade,excepttheoreticallyandonpaper,inthisminimumoftime,andwiththeexistingmeansoftravelling。TheTimes,Standard,MorningPost,andDailyNew,andtwentyotherhighlyrespectablenewspapersscoutedMrFogg\'sprojectasmadness;theDailyTelegraphalonehesitatinglysupportedhim。Peopleingeneralthoughthimalunatic,andblamedhisReformClubfriendsforhavingacceptedawagerwhichbetrayedthementalaberrationofitsproposer。

  Articlesnolesspassionatethanlogicalappearedonthequestion,forgeographyisoneofthepetsubjectsoftheEnglish;andthecolumnsdevotedtoPhileasFogg\'sventurewereeagerlydevouredbyallclassesofreaders。

  Atfirstsomerashindividuals,principallyofthegentlersex,espousedhiscause,whichbecamestillmorepopularwhentheIllustratedLondonNewscameoutwithhisportrait,copiedfromaphotographintheReformClub。AfewreadersoftheDailyTelegraphevendaredtosay,`Whynot,afterall?Strangerthingshavecometopass。\'

  Atlastalongarticleappeared,onthe7thofOctober,inthebulletinoftheRoyalGeographicalSociety,whichtreatedthequestionfromeverypointofview,anddemonstratedtheutterfollyoftheenterprise。

  Everything,itsaid,wasagainstthetravellers,everyobstacleimposedalikebymanandbynature。Amiraculousagreementofthetimesofdepartureandarrival,whichwasimpossible,wasabsolutelynecessarytohissuccess。

  Hemight,perhaps,reckononthearrivaloftrainsatthedesignatedhours,inEurope,wherethedistanceswererelativelymoderate;butwhenhecalculateduponcrosSingIndiainthreedays,andtheUnitedStatesinseven,couldherelybeyondmisgivinguponaccomplishinghistask?Therewereaccidentstomachinery,theliabilityoftrainstorunofftheline,collisions,badweather,theblockingupbysnow,-werenotalltheseagainstPhileasFogg?Wouldhenotfindhimself,whentravellingbysteamerinwinter,atthemerryofthewindsandfogs?Isituncommonforthebestoceansteamerstobetwoorthreedaysbehindtime?Butasingledelaywouldsufficetofatallybreakthechainofcommunication;shouldPhileasFoggoncemiss,evenbyanhour,asteamer,hewouldhavetowaitforthenext,andthatwouldirrevocablyrenderhisattemptvain。

  Thisarticlemadeagreatdealofnoise,andbeingcopiedintoallthepapers,seriouslydepressedtheadvocatesoftherashtourist。

  EverybodyknowsthatEnglandistheworldofbettingmen,whoareofahigherclassthanmeregamblers;tobetisintheEnglishtemperament。

  NotonlythemembersoftheReform,butthegeneralpublic,madeheavywagersfororagainstPhileasFogg,whowassetdowninthebettingbooksasifhewerearace-horse。Bondswereissued,andmadetheirappearanceon\'Change;`PhileasFoggbonds\'wereofferedatparoratapremium,andagreatbusinesswasdoneinthem。ButfivedaysafterthearticleinthebulletinoftheGeographicalSocietyappeared,thedemandbegantosubside:

  `PhileasFogg\'declined。Theywereofferedbypackages,atfirstoffive,thenoften,untilatlastnobodywouldtakelessthantwenty,fifty,ahundred!

  LordAlbermarle,anelderlyparalyticgentleman,wasnowtheonlyadvocateofPhileasFoggleft。Thisnoblelord,whowasfastenedtohischair,wouldhavegivenhisfortunetobeabletomakethetouroftheworld,ifittooktenyears;andbetfivethousandpoundsonPhileasFogg。Whenthefollyaswellastheuselessnessoftheadventurewaspointedouttohim,hecontentedhimselfwithreplying,`Ifthethingisfeasible,thefirsttodoitoughttobeanEnglishman。\'

  TheFoggpartydwindledmoreandmore,everybodywasgoingagainsthim,andthebetsstoodahundredandfiftyandtwohundredtoone;andaweekafterhisdepartureanincidentoccurredwhichdeprivedhimofbackersatanyprice。

  Thecommissionerofpolicewassittinginhisofficeatnineo\'clockoneevening,whenthefollowingtelegraphicdespatchwasputintohishands:——SueztoLondon。ROWAN,COMMISSIONEROFPOLICE,SCOTLANDYARD:

  I\'vefoundthebankrobber,PhileasFogg。SendwithoutdelaywarrantofarresttoBombay。

  FIX,Detective。Theeffectofthisdespatchwasinstantaneous。Thepolishedgentlemandisappearedtogiveplacetothebankrobber。Hisphotograph,whichwashungwiththoseoftherestofthemembersattheReformClub,wasminutelyexamined,anditbetrayed,featurebyfeature,thedescriptionoftherobberwhichhadbeenprovidedtothepolice。ThemysterioushabitsofPhileasFoggwererecalled;hissolitaryways,hissuddendeparture;anditseemedclearthat,inundertakingatourroundtheworldonthepretextofawager,hehadhadnootherendinviewthantoeludethedetectives,andthrowthemoffhistrack。

  CHAPTERVIINWHICHFIX,THEDETECTIVE,BETRAYSAVERYNATURALIMPATIENCE。

  ThecircumstancesunderwhichthistelegraphicdespatchaboutPhileasFoggwassentwereasfollows:——

  Thesteamer`Mongolia\',belongingtothePeninsularandOrientalCompany,builtofiron,oftwothousandeighthundredtonsburden,andfivehundredhorse-power,wasdueateleveno\'clocka。m。onWednesday,the9thofOctober,atSuez。The`Mongolia\'pliedregularlybetweenBrindisiandBombayviâtheSuezCanal,andwasoneofthefasteststeamersbelongingtothecompany,alwaysmakingmorethantenknotsanhourbetweenBrindisiandSuez,andnineandahalfbetweenSuezandBombay。

  Twomenwerepromenadingupanddownthewharves,amongthecrowdofnativesandstrangerswhoweresojourningatthisoncestragglingvillage-now,thankstotheenterpriseofM。Lesseps,afast-growingtown。OnewastheBritishconsulatSuez,who,despitethepropheciesoftheEnglishGovernment,andtheunfavourablepredictionsofStephenson,wasinthehabitofseeing,fromhisofficewindow,Englishshipsdailypassingtoandfroonthegreatcanal,bywhichtheoldroundaboutroutefromEnglandtoIndiabytheCapeofGoodHopewasabridgedbyatleastahalf。Theotherwasasmall,slight-builtpersonage,withanervous,intelligentface,andbrighteyespeeringoutfromundereyebrowswhichhewasincessantlytwitching。Hewasjustnowmanifestingunmistakablesignsofimpatience,nervouslypacingupanddown,andunabletostandstillforamoment。ThiswasFix,oneofthedetectiveswhohadbeendespatchedfromEnglandinsearchofthebankrobber;itwashistasktonarrowlywatcheverypassengerwhoarrivedatSuez,andtofollowupallwhoseemedtobesuspiciouscharacters,orborearesemblancetothedescriptionofthecriminal,whichhehadreceivedtwodaysbeforefromthepoliceheadquartersatLondon。Thedetectivewasevidentlyinspiredbythehopeofobtainingthesplendidrewardwhichwouldbetheprizeofsuccess,andawaitedwithafeverishimpatience,easytounderstand,thearrivalofthesteamer`Mongolia\'。

  `Soyousay,consul,\'askedheforthetwentiethtime,`thatthissteamerisneverbehindtime?\'

  `No,MrFix,\'repliedtheconsul。`ShewasbespokenyesterdayatPortSaid,andtherestofthewayisofnoaccounttosuchacraft。Irepeatthatthe`Mongolia\'hasbeeninadvanceofthetimerequiredbythecompany\'sregulations,andgainedtheprizeawardedforexcessofspeed。\'

  `DoesshecomedirectlyfromBrindisi?\'

  `DirectlyfromBrindisi;shetakesontheIndianmailsthere,andsheleftthereSaturdayatfivep。m。Havepatience,MrFix;shewillnotbelate。ButreallyIdon\'tseehow,frthedescriptionyouhave,youwillbeabletorecognizeyourman,evenifheisonboardthe\"Mongolia\"。\'

  `Amanratherfeelsthepresenceofthesefellows,consul,thanrecognizesthem。Youmusthaveascentforthem,andascentislikeasixthsensewhichcombineshearing,seeingandsmelling。I\'vearrestedmorethanoneofthesegentlemeninmytime,andifmythiefisonboard,I\'llanswerforit,he\'llnotslipthroughmyfingers。\'

  `Ihopeso,MrFix,foritwasaheavyrobbery。\'

  `Amagnificentrobbery,consul;fifty-fivethousandpounds!Wedon\'toftenhavesuchwindfalls。Burglarsaregettingtobesocontemptiblenowadays!

  Afellowgetshungforahandfulofshillings!\'

  `MrFix,\'saidtheconsul,`Ilikeyourwayoftalking,andhopeyou\'llsucceed;butIfearyouwillfinditfarfromeasy。Don\'tyousee,thedescriptionwhichyouhavetherehasasingularresemblancetoanhonestman?\'

  `Consul,\'remarkedthedetective,dogmatically,greatrobbersalwaysresemblehonestfolks。Fellowswhohaverascallyfaceshaveonlyonecoursetotake,andthatistoremainhonest;otherwisetheywouldbearrestedoff-hand。Theartisticthingis,tounmaskhonestcountenances;it\'snolighttask,Iadmit,butarealart。\'

  MrFixevidentlywasnotwantinginatingeofself-conceit。

点击下载App,搜索"AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS",免费读到尾