Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.I-VI
installed in a carriage with Aouda, who had the best seat, `
` were whirling at full speed towards Benares. It was a run of eighty miles, `
` and was accomplished in two hours. During the journey, the young woman `
` fully recovered her senses. What was her astonishment to find herself `
` in this carriage, on the railway, dressed in European habiliments, `
` and with travellers who were quite strangers to her! Her companions `
` first set about fully reviving her with a little liquor, `
` and then Sir Francis narrated to her what had passed, `
` dwelling upon the courage with which Phileas Fogg `
` had not hesitated to risk his life to save her, and recounting `
` the happy sequel of the venture, the result of Passepartout's rash idea. `
` Mr. Fogg said nothing; while Passepartout, abashed, kept repeating that `
` "it wasn't worth telling." `
` `
` Aouda pathetically thanked her deliverers, rather with tears `
` than words; her fine eyes interpreted her gratitude better `
` than her lips. Then, as her thoughts strayed back to the scene `
` of the sacrifice, and recalled the dangers which still menaced her, `
` she shuddered with terror. `
` `
` Phileas Fogg understood what was passing in Aouda's mind, and offered, `
` in order to reassure her, to escort her to Hong Kong, where she might remain `
` safely until the affair was hushed up--an offer which she eagerly `
` and gratefully accepted. She had, it seems, a Parsee relation, `
` who was one of the principal merchants of Hong Kong, which is wholly `
` an English city, though on an island on the Chinese coast. `
` `
` At half-past twelve the train stopped at Benares. The Brahmin legends `
` assert that this city is built on the site of the ancient Casi, which, `
` like Mahomet's tomb, was once suspended between heaven and earth; `
` though the Benares of to-day, which the Orientalists call the Athens of India, `
` stands quite unpoetically on the solid earth, Passepartout caught glimpses `
` of its brick houses and clay huts, giving an aspect of desolation to the place, `
` as the train entered it. `
` `
` Benares was Sir Francis Cromarty's destination, the troops he `
` was rejoining being encamped some miles northward of the city. `
` He bade adieu to Phileas Fogg, wishing him all success, `
` and expressing the hope that he would come that way again `
` in a less original but more profitable fashion. Mr. Fogg lightly `
` pressed him by the hand. The parting of Aouda, who did not forget `
` what she owed to Sir Francis, betrayed more warmth; and, as for `
` Passepartout, he received a hearty shake of the hand from the `
` gallant general. `
` `
` The railway, on leaving Benares, passed for a while along the `
` valley of the Ganges. Through the windows of their carriage `
` the travellers had glimpses of the diversified landscape of Behar, `
` with its mountains clothed in verdure, its fields of barley, `
` wheat, and corn, its jungles peopled with green alligators, `
` its neat villages, and its still thickly-leaved forests. `
` Elephants were bathing in the waters of the sacred river, `
` and groups of Indians, despite the advanced season and chilly air, `
` were performing solemnly their pious ablutions. These were `
` fervent Brahmins, the bitterest foes of Buddhism, their deities `
` being Vishnu, the solar god, Shiva, the divine impersonation of `
` natural forces, and Brahma, the supreme ruler of priests and legislators. `
` What would these divinities think of India, anglicised as it is to-day, `
` with steamers whistling and scudding along the Ganges, frightening the gulls `
` which float upon its surface, the turtles swarming along its banks, `
` and the faithful dwelling upon its borders? `
` `
` The panorama passed before their eyes like a flash, save when `
` the steam concealed it fitfully from the view; the travellers `
` could scarcely discern the fort of Chupenie, twenty miles `
` south-westward from Benares, the ancient stronghold of the rajahs `
` of Behar; or Ghazipur and its famous rose-water factories; or the `
` tomb of Lord Cornwallis, rising on the left bank of the Ganges; `
` the fortified town of Buxar, or Patna, a large manufacturing and `
` trading-place, where is held the principal opium market of India; `
` or Monghir, a more than European town, for it is as English as `
` Manchester or Birmingham, with its iron foundries, edgetool factories, `
` and high chimneys puffing clouds of black smoke heavenward. `
` `
` Night came on; the train passed on at full speed, in the midst `
` of the roaring of the tigers, bears, and wolves which fled before `
` the locomotive; and the marvels of Bengal, Golconda ruined Gour, `
` Murshedabad, the ancient capital, Burdwan, Hugly, and the French `
` town of Chandernagor, where Passepartout would have been proud to see `
` his country's flag flying, were hidden from their view in the darkness. `
` `
` Calcutta was reached at seven in the morning, `
` and the packet left for Hong Kong at noon; `
` so that Phileas Fogg had five hours before him. `
` `
` According to his journal, he was due at Calcutta on the 25th `
` of October, and that was the exact date of his actual arrival. `
` He was therefore neither behind-hand nor ahead of time. `
` The two days gained between London and Bombay had been lost, `
` as has been seen, in the journey across India. But it is not `
` to be supposed that Phileas Fogg regretted them. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XV `
` `
` IN WHICH THE BAG OF BANKNOTES DISGORGES `
` SOME THOUSANDS OF POUNDS MORE `
` `
` `
` The train entered the station, and Passepartout jumping out first, `
` was followed by Mr. Fogg, who assisted his fair companion to descend. `
` Phileas Fogg intended to proceed at once to the Hong Kong steamer, `
` in order to get Aouda comfortably settled for the voyage. `
` He was unwilling to leave her while they were still on dangerous ground. `
` `
` Just as he was leaving the station a policeman came up to him, and said, `
` "Mr. Phileas Fogg?" `
` `
` "I am he." `
` `
` "Is this man your servant?" added the policeman, pointing to Passepartout. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Be so good, both of you, as to follow me." `
` `
` Mr. Fogg betrayed no surprise whatever. The policeman was a `
` representative of the law, and law is sacred to an Englishman. `
` Passepartout tried to reason about the matter, but the policeman `
` tapped him with his stick, and Mr. Fogg made him a signal to obey. `
` `
` "May this young lady go with us?" asked he. `
` `
` "She may," replied the policeman. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout were conducted to a palkigahri, `
` a sort of four-wheeled carriage, drawn by two horses, in which they `
` took their places and were driven away. No one spoke during `
` the twenty minutes which elapsed before they reached their destination. `
` They first passed through the "black town," with its narrow streets, `
` its miserable, dirty huts, and squalid population; then through the `
` "European town," which presented a relief in its bright brick mansions, `
` shaded by coconut-trees and bristling with masts, where, although it was `
` early morning, elegantly dressed horsemen and handsome equipages `
` were passing back and forth. `
` `
` The carriage stopped before a modest-looking house, which, `
` however, did not have the appearance of a private mansion. `
` The policeman having requested his prisoners for so, truly, `
` they might be called-to descend, conducted them into a room `
` with barred windows, and said: "You will appear before `
` Judge Obadiah at half-past eight." `
` `
` He then retired, and closed the door. `
` `
` "Why, we are prisoners!" exclaimed Passepartout, falling into a chair. `
` `
` Aouda, with an emotion she tried to conceal, said to Mr. Fogg: `
` "Sir, you must leave me to my fate! It is on my account that `
` you receive this treatment, it is for having saved me!" `
` `
` Phileas Fogg contented himself with saying that it was impossible. `
` It was quite unlikely that he should be arrested for preventing a suttee. `
` The complainants would not dare present themselves with such a charge. `
` There was some mistake. Moreover, he would not, in any event, `
` abandon Aouda, but would escort her to Hong Kong. `
` `
` "But the steamer leaves at noon!" observed Passepartout, nervously. `
` `
` "We shall be on board by noon," replied his master, placidly. `
` `
` It was said so positively that Passepartout could not help `
` muttering to himself, "Parbleu that's certain! Before noon `
` we shall be on board." But he was by no means reassured. `
` `
` At half-past eight the door opened, the policeman appeared, and, `
` requesting them to follow him, led the way to an adjoining hall. `
` It was evidently a court-room, and a crowd of Europeans and natives `
` already occupied the rear of the apartment. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg and his two companions took their places on a `
` bench opposite the desks of the magistrate and his clerk. `
` Immediately after, Judge Obadiah, a fat, round man, followed by `
` the clerk, entered. He proceeded to take down a wig which was `
` hanging on a nail, and put it hurriedly on his head. `
` `
` "The first case," said he. Then, putting his hand to his `
` head, he exclaimed, "Heh! This is not my wig!" `
` `
` "No, your worship," returned the clerk, "it is mine." `
` `
` "My dear Mr. Oysterpuff, how can a judge give a wise sentence `
` in a clerk's wig?" `
` `
` The wigs were exchanged. `
` `
` Passepartout was getting nervous, for the hands on the face of the big clock `
` over the judge seemed to go around with terrible rapidity. `
` `
` "The first case," repeated Judge Obadiah. `
` `
` "Phileas Fogg?" demanded Oysterpuff. `
` `
` "I am here," replied Mr. Fogg. `
` `
` "Passepartout?" `
` `
` "Present," responded Passepartout. `
` `
`
` were whirling at full speed towards Benares. It was a run of eighty miles, `
` and was accomplished in two hours. During the journey, the young woman `
` fully recovered her senses. What was her astonishment to find herself `
` in this carriage, on the railway, dressed in European habiliments, `
` and with travellers who were quite strangers to her! Her companions `
` first set about fully reviving her with a little liquor, `
` and then Sir Francis narrated to her what had passed, `
` dwelling upon the courage with which Phileas Fogg `
` had not hesitated to risk his life to save her, and recounting `
` the happy sequel of the venture, the result of Passepartout's rash idea. `
` Mr. Fogg said nothing; while Passepartout, abashed, kept repeating that `
` "it wasn't worth telling." `
` `
` Aouda pathetically thanked her deliverers, rather with tears `
` than words; her fine eyes interpreted her gratitude better `
` than her lips. Then, as her thoughts strayed back to the scene `
` of the sacrifice, and recalled the dangers which still menaced her, `
` she shuddered with terror. `
` `
` Phileas Fogg understood what was passing in Aouda's mind, and offered, `
` in order to reassure her, to escort her to Hong Kong, where she might remain `
` safely until the affair was hushed up--an offer which she eagerly `
` and gratefully accepted. She had, it seems, a Parsee relation, `
` who was one of the principal merchants of Hong Kong, which is wholly `
` an English city, though on an island on the Chinese coast. `
` `
` At half-past twelve the train stopped at Benares. The Brahmin legends `
` assert that this city is built on the site of the ancient Casi, which, `
` like Mahomet's tomb, was once suspended between heaven and earth; `
` though the Benares of to-day, which the Orientalists call the Athens of India, `
` stands quite unpoetically on the solid earth, Passepartout caught glimpses `
` of its brick houses and clay huts, giving an aspect of desolation to the place, `
` as the train entered it. `
` `
` Benares was Sir Francis Cromarty's destination, the troops he `
` was rejoining being encamped some miles northward of the city. `
` He bade adieu to Phileas Fogg, wishing him all success, `
` and expressing the hope that he would come that way again `
` in a less original but more profitable fashion. Mr. Fogg lightly `
` pressed him by the hand. The parting of Aouda, who did not forget `
` what she owed to Sir Francis, betrayed more warmth; and, as for `
` Passepartout, he received a hearty shake of the hand from the `
` gallant general. `
` `
` The railway, on leaving Benares, passed for a while along the `
` valley of the Ganges. Through the windows of their carriage `
` the travellers had glimpses of the diversified landscape of Behar, `
` with its mountains clothed in verdure, its fields of barley, `
` wheat, and corn, its jungles peopled with green alligators, `
` its neat villages, and its still thickly-leaved forests. `
` Elephants were bathing in the waters of the sacred river, `
` and groups of Indians, despite the advanced season and chilly air, `
` were performing solemnly their pious ablutions. These were `
` fervent Brahmins, the bitterest foes of Buddhism, their deities `
` being Vishnu, the solar god, Shiva, the divine impersonation of `
` natural forces, and Brahma, the supreme ruler of priests and legislators. `
` What would these divinities think of India, anglicised as it is to-day, `
` with steamers whistling and scudding along the Ganges, frightening the gulls `
` which float upon its surface, the turtles swarming along its banks, `
` and the faithful dwelling upon its borders? `
` `
` The panorama passed before their eyes like a flash, save when `
` the steam concealed it fitfully from the view; the travellers `
` could scarcely discern the fort of Chupenie, twenty miles `
` south-westward from Benares, the ancient stronghold of the rajahs `
` of Behar; or Ghazipur and its famous rose-water factories; or the `
` tomb of Lord Cornwallis, rising on the left bank of the Ganges; `
` the fortified town of Buxar, or Patna, a large manufacturing and `
` trading-place, where is held the principal opium market of India; `
` or Monghir, a more than European town, for it is as English as `
` Manchester or Birmingham, with its iron foundries, edgetool factories, `
` and high chimneys puffing clouds of black smoke heavenward. `
` `
` Night came on; the train passed on at full speed, in the midst `
` of the roaring of the tigers, bears, and wolves which fled before `
` the locomotive; and the marvels of Bengal, Golconda ruined Gour, `
` Murshedabad, the ancient capital, Burdwan, Hugly, and the French `
` town of Chandernagor, where Passepartout would have been proud to see `
` his country's flag flying, were hidden from their view in the darkness. `
` `
` Calcutta was reached at seven in the morning, `
` and the packet left for Hong Kong at noon; `
` so that Phileas Fogg had five hours before him. `
` `
` According to his journal, he was due at Calcutta on the 25th `
` of October, and that was the exact date of his actual arrival. `
` He was therefore neither behind-hand nor ahead of time. `
` The two days gained between London and Bombay had been lost, `
` as has been seen, in the journey across India. But it is not `
` to be supposed that Phileas Fogg regretted them. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XV `
` `
` IN WHICH THE BAG OF BANKNOTES DISGORGES `
` SOME THOUSANDS OF POUNDS MORE `
` `
` `
` The train entered the station, and Passepartout jumping out first, `
` was followed by Mr. Fogg, who assisted his fair companion to descend. `
` Phileas Fogg intended to proceed at once to the Hong Kong steamer, `
` in order to get Aouda comfortably settled for the voyage. `
` He was unwilling to leave her while they were still on dangerous ground. `
` `
` Just as he was leaving the station a policeman came up to him, and said, `
` "Mr. Phileas Fogg?" `
` `
` "I am he." `
` `
` "Is this man your servant?" added the policeman, pointing to Passepartout. `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "Be so good, both of you, as to follow me." `
` `
` Mr. Fogg betrayed no surprise whatever. The policeman was a `
` representative of the law, and law is sacred to an Englishman. `
` Passepartout tried to reason about the matter, but the policeman `
` tapped him with his stick, and Mr. Fogg made him a signal to obey. `
` `
` "May this young lady go with us?" asked he. `
` `
` "She may," replied the policeman. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout were conducted to a palkigahri, `
` a sort of four-wheeled carriage, drawn by two horses, in which they `
` took their places and were driven away. No one spoke during `
` the twenty minutes which elapsed before they reached their destination. `
` They first passed through the "black town," with its narrow streets, `
` its miserable, dirty huts, and squalid population; then through the `
` "European town," which presented a relief in its bright brick mansions, `
` shaded by coconut-trees and bristling with masts, where, although it was `
` early morning, elegantly dressed horsemen and handsome equipages `
` were passing back and forth. `
` `
` The carriage stopped before a modest-looking house, which, `
` however, did not have the appearance of a private mansion. `
` The policeman having requested his prisoners for so, truly, `
` they might be called-to descend, conducted them into a room `
` with barred windows, and said: "You will appear before `
` Judge Obadiah at half-past eight." `
` `
` He then retired, and closed the door. `
` `
` "Why, we are prisoners!" exclaimed Passepartout, falling into a chair. `
` `
` Aouda, with an emotion she tried to conceal, said to Mr. Fogg: `
` "Sir, you must leave me to my fate! It is on my account that `
` you receive this treatment, it is for having saved me!" `
` `
` Phileas Fogg contented himself with saying that it was impossible. `
` It was quite unlikely that he should be arrested for preventing a suttee. `
` The complainants would not dare present themselves with such a charge. `
` There was some mistake. Moreover, he would not, in any event, `
` abandon Aouda, but would escort her to Hong Kong. `
` `
` "But the steamer leaves at noon!" observed Passepartout, nervously. `
` `
` "We shall be on board by noon," replied his master, placidly. `
` `
` It was said so positively that Passepartout could not help `
` muttering to himself, "Parbleu that's certain! Before noon `
` we shall be on board." But he was by no means reassured. `
` `
` At half-past eight the door opened, the policeman appeared, and, `
` requesting them to follow him, led the way to an adjoining hall. `
` It was evidently a court-room, and a crowd of Europeans and natives `
` already occupied the rear of the apartment. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg and his two companions took their places on a `
` bench opposite the desks of the magistrate and his clerk. `
` Immediately after, Judge Obadiah, a fat, round man, followed by `
` the clerk, entered. He proceeded to take down a wig which was `
` hanging on a nail, and put it hurriedly on his head. `
` `
` "The first case," said he. Then, putting his hand to his `
` head, he exclaimed, "Heh! This is not my wig!" `
` `
` "No, your worship," returned the clerk, "it is mine." `
` `
` "My dear Mr. Oysterpuff, how can a judge give a wise sentence `
` in a clerk's wig?" `
` `
` The wigs were exchanged. `
` `
` Passepartout was getting nervous, for the hands on the face of the big clock `
` over the judge seemed to go around with terrible rapidity. `
` `
` "The first case," repeated Judge Obadiah. `
` `
` "Phileas Fogg?" demanded Oysterpuff. `
` `
` "I am here," replied Mr. Fogg. `
` `
` "Passepartout?" `
` `
` "Present," responded Passepartout. `
` `
`