Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.I-VI
`
` "Good," said the judge. "You have been looked for, prisoners, `
` for two days on the trains from Bombay." `
` `
` "But of what are we accused?" asked Passepartout, impatiently. `
` `
` "You are about to be informed." `
` `
` "I am an English subject, sir," said Mr. Fogg, "and I have the right--" `
` `
` "Have you been ill-treated?" `
` `
` "Not at all." `
` `
` "Very well; let the complainants come in." `
` `
` A door was swung open by order of the judge, and three Indian priests entered. `
` `
` "That's it," muttered Passepartout; "these are the rogues `
` who were going to burn our young lady." `
` `
` The priests took their places in front of the judge, and the clerk `
` proceeded to read in a loud voice a complaint of sacrilege against `
` Phileas Fogg and his servant, who were accused of having violated `
` a place held consecrated by the Brahmin religion. `
` `
` "You hear the charge?" asked the judge. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," replied Mr. Fogg, consulting his watch, "and I admit it." `
` `
` "You admit it?" `
` `
` "I admit it, and I wish to hear these priests admit, in their turn, `
` what they were going to do at the pagoda of Pillaji." `
` `
` The priests looked at each other; they did not seem to understand `
` what was said. `
` `
` "Yes," cried Passepartout, warmly; "at the pagoda of Pillaji, `
` where they were on the point of burning their victim." `
` `
` The judge stared with astonishment, and the priests were stupefied. `
` `
` "What victim?" said Judge Obadiah. "Burn whom? In Bombay itself?" `
` `
` "Bombay?" cried Passepartout. `
` `
` "Certainly. We are not talking of the pagoda of Pillaji, but of the pagoda `
` of Malabar Hill, at Bombay." `
` `
` "And as a proof," added the clerk, "here are the desecrator's very shoes, `
` which he left behind him." `
` `
` Whereupon he placed a pair of shoes on his desk. `
` `
` "My shoes!" cried Passepartout, in his surprise permitting `
` this imprudent exclamation to escape him. `
` `
` The confusion of master and man, who had quite forgotten the `
` affair at Bombay, for which they were now detained at Calcutta, `
` may be imagined. `
` `
` Fix the detective, had foreseen the advantage which Passepartout's `
` escapade gave him, and, delaying his departure for twelve hours, `
` had consulted the priests of Malabar Hill. Knowing that the English `
` authorities dealt very severely with this kind of misdemeanour, `
` he promised them a goodly sum in damages, and sent them forward `
` to Calcutta by the next train. Owing to the delay caused by the rescue `
` of the young widow, Fix and the priests reached the Indian capital before `
` Mr. Fogg and his servant, the magistrates having been already warned `
` by a dispatch to arrest them should they arrive. Fix's disappointment `
` when he learned that Phileas Fogg had not made his appearance in Calcutta `
` may be imagined. He made up his mind that the robber had stopped `
` somewhere on the route and taken refuge in the southern provinces. `
` For twenty-four hours Fix watched the station with feverish anxiety; `
` at last he was rewarded by seeing Mr. Fogg and Passepartout arrive, `
` accompanied by a young woman, whose presence he was wholly at a loss `
` to explain. He hastened for a policeman; and this was how the party came `
` to be arrested and brought before Judge Obadiah. `
` `
` Had Passepartout been a little less preoccupied, he would have `
` espied the detective ensconced in a corner of the court-room, `
` watching the proceedings with an interest easily understood; `
` for the warrant had failed to reach him at Calcutta, `
` as it had done at Bombay and Suez. `
` `
` Judge Obadiah had unfortunately caught Passepartout's rash exclamation, `
` which the poor fellow would have given the world to recall. `
` `
` "The facts are admitted?" asked the judge. `
` `
` "Admitted," replied Mr. Fogg, coldly. `
` `
` "Inasmuch," resumed the judge, "as the English law protects equally `
` and sternly the religions of the Indian people, and as the man `
` Passepartout has admitted that he violated the sacred pagoda of Malabar Hill, `
` at Bombay, on the 20th of October, I condemn the said Passepartout `
` to imprisonment for fifteen days and a fine of three hundred pounds." `
` `
` "Three hundred pounds!" cried Passepartout, startled at the largeness `
` of the sum. `
` `
` "Silence!" shouted the constable. `
` `
` "And inasmuch," continued the judge, "as it is not proved that `
` the act was not done by the connivance of the master with the servant, `
` and as the master in any case must be held responsible for the acts `
` of his paid servant, I condemn Phileas Fogg to a week's imprisonment `
` and a fine of one hundred and fifty pounds." `
` `
` Fix rubbed his hands softly with satisfaction; if Phileas Fogg `
` could be detained in Calcutta a week, it would be more than time `
` for the warrant to arrive. Passepartout was stupefied. This sentence `
` ruined his master. A wager of twenty thousand pounds lost, because he, `
` like a precious fool, had gone into that abominable pagoda! `
` `
` Phileas Fogg, as self-composed as if the judgment did not `
` in the least concern him, did not even lift his eyebrows while `
` it was being pronounced. Just as the clerk was calling the next case, `
` he rose, and said, "I offer bail." `
` `
` "You have that right," returned the judge. `
` `
` Fix's blood ran cold, but he resumed his composure when he heard `
` the judge announce that the bail required for each prisoner `
` would be one thousand pounds. `
` `
` "I will pay it at once," said Mr. Fogg, taking a roll of bank-bills `
` from the carpet-bag, which Passepartout had by him, and placing them `
` on the clerk's desk. `
` `
` "This sum will be restored to you upon your release from prison," `
` said the judge. "Meanwhile, you are liberated on bail." `
` `
` "Come!" said Phileas Fogg to his servant. `
` `
` "But let them at least give me back my shoes!" cried Passepartout angrily. `
` `
` "Ah, these are pretty dear shoes!" he muttered, as they were handed to him. `
` "More than a thousand pounds apiece; besides, they pinch my feet." `
` `
` Mr. Fogg, offering his arm to Aouda, then departed, followed `
` by the crestfallen Passepartout. Fix still nourished hopes `
` that the robber would not, after all, leave the two thousand pounds `
` behind him, but would decide to serve out his week in jail, `
` and issued forth on Mr. Fogg's traces. That gentleman took a carriage, `
` and the party were soon landed on one of the quays. `
` `
` The Rangoon was moored half a mile off in the harbour, its signal `
` of departure hoisted at the mast-head. Eleven o'clock was striking; `
` Mr. Fogg was an hour in advance of time. Fix saw them leave the carriage and `
` push off in a boat for the steamer, and stamped his feet with disappointment. `
` `
` "The rascal is off, after all!" he exclaimed. "Two thousand pounds sacrificed! `
` He's as prodigal as a thief! I'll follow him to the end of the world `
` if necessary; but, at the rate he is going on, the stolen money will `
` soon be exhausted." `
` `
` The detective was not far wrong in making this conjecture. `
` Since leaving London, what with travelling expenses, bribes, `
` the purchase of the elephant, bails, and fines, Mr. Fogg `
` had already spent more than five thousand pounds on the way, `
` and the percentage of the sum recovered from the bank robber `
` promised to the detectives, was rapidly diminishing. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XVI `
` `
` IN WHICH FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND `
` IN THE LEAST WHAT IS SAID TO HIM `
` `
` `
` The Rangoon--one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's boats `
` plying in the Chinese and Japanese seas--was a screw steamer, `
` built of iron, weighing about seventeen hundred and seventy tons, `
` and with engines of four hundred horse-power. She was as fast, `
` but not as well fitted up, as the Mongolia, and Aouda was not as `
` comfortably provided for on board of her as Phileas Fogg could have wished. `
` However, the trip from Calcutta to Hong Kong only comprised some `
` three thousand five hundred miles, occupying from ten to twelve days, `
` and the young woman was not difficult to please. `
` `
` During the first days of the journey Aouda became better acquainted `
` with her protector, and constantly gave evidence of her deep gratitude `
` for what he had done. The phlegmatic gentleman listened to her, `
` apparently at least, with coldness, neither his voice nor his manner `
` betraying the slightest emotion; but he seemed to be always on the watch `
` that nothing should be wanting to Aouda's comfort. He visited her `
` regularly each day at certain hours, not so much to talk himself, `
` as to sit and hear her talk. He treated her with the strictest politeness, `
` but with the precision of an automaton, the movements of which had been `
` arranged for this purpose. Aouda did not quite know what to make of him, `
` though Passepartout had given her some hints of his master's eccentricity, `
` and made her smile by telling her of the wager which was sending him `
` round the world. After all, she owed Phileas Fogg her life, and she `
` always regarded him through the exalting medium of her gratitude. `
` `
` Aouda confirmed the Parsee guide's narrative of her touching history. `
` She did, indeed, belong to the highest of the native races of India. `
`
` "Good," said the judge. "You have been looked for, prisoners, `
` for two days on the trains from Bombay." `
` `
` "But of what are we accused?" asked Passepartout, impatiently. `
` `
` "You are about to be informed." `
` `
` "I am an English subject, sir," said Mr. Fogg, "and I have the right--" `
` `
` "Have you been ill-treated?" `
` `
` "Not at all." `
` `
` "Very well; let the complainants come in." `
` `
` A door was swung open by order of the judge, and three Indian priests entered. `
` `
` "That's it," muttered Passepartout; "these are the rogues `
` who were going to burn our young lady." `
` `
` The priests took their places in front of the judge, and the clerk `
` proceeded to read in a loud voice a complaint of sacrilege against `
` Phileas Fogg and his servant, who were accused of having violated `
` a place held consecrated by the Brahmin religion. `
` `
` "You hear the charge?" asked the judge. `
` `
` "Yes, sir," replied Mr. Fogg, consulting his watch, "and I admit it." `
` `
` "You admit it?" `
` `
` "I admit it, and I wish to hear these priests admit, in their turn, `
` what they were going to do at the pagoda of Pillaji." `
` `
` The priests looked at each other; they did not seem to understand `
` what was said. `
` `
` "Yes," cried Passepartout, warmly; "at the pagoda of Pillaji, `
` where they were on the point of burning their victim." `
` `
` The judge stared with astonishment, and the priests were stupefied. `
` `
` "What victim?" said Judge Obadiah. "Burn whom? In Bombay itself?" `
` `
` "Bombay?" cried Passepartout. `
` `
` "Certainly. We are not talking of the pagoda of Pillaji, but of the pagoda `
` of Malabar Hill, at Bombay." `
` `
` "And as a proof," added the clerk, "here are the desecrator's very shoes, `
` which he left behind him." `
` `
` Whereupon he placed a pair of shoes on his desk. `
` `
` "My shoes!" cried Passepartout, in his surprise permitting `
` this imprudent exclamation to escape him. `
` `
` The confusion of master and man, who had quite forgotten the `
` affair at Bombay, for which they were now detained at Calcutta, `
` may be imagined. `
` `
` Fix the detective, had foreseen the advantage which Passepartout's `
` escapade gave him, and, delaying his departure for twelve hours, `
` had consulted the priests of Malabar Hill. Knowing that the English `
` authorities dealt very severely with this kind of misdemeanour, `
` he promised them a goodly sum in damages, and sent them forward `
` to Calcutta by the next train. Owing to the delay caused by the rescue `
` of the young widow, Fix and the priests reached the Indian capital before `
` Mr. Fogg and his servant, the magistrates having been already warned `
` by a dispatch to arrest them should they arrive. Fix's disappointment `
` when he learned that Phileas Fogg had not made his appearance in Calcutta `
` may be imagined. He made up his mind that the robber had stopped `
` somewhere on the route and taken refuge in the southern provinces. `
` For twenty-four hours Fix watched the station with feverish anxiety; `
` at last he was rewarded by seeing Mr. Fogg and Passepartout arrive, `
` accompanied by a young woman, whose presence he was wholly at a loss `
` to explain. He hastened for a policeman; and this was how the party came `
` to be arrested and brought before Judge Obadiah. `
` `
` Had Passepartout been a little less preoccupied, he would have `
` espied the detective ensconced in a corner of the court-room, `
` watching the proceedings with an interest easily understood; `
` for the warrant had failed to reach him at Calcutta, `
` as it had done at Bombay and Suez. `
` `
` Judge Obadiah had unfortunately caught Passepartout's rash exclamation, `
` which the poor fellow would have given the world to recall. `
` `
` "The facts are admitted?" asked the judge. `
` `
` "Admitted," replied Mr. Fogg, coldly. `
` `
` "Inasmuch," resumed the judge, "as the English law protects equally `
` and sternly the religions of the Indian people, and as the man `
` Passepartout has admitted that he violated the sacred pagoda of Malabar Hill, `
` at Bombay, on the 20th of October, I condemn the said Passepartout `
` to imprisonment for fifteen days and a fine of three hundred pounds." `
` `
` "Three hundred pounds!" cried Passepartout, startled at the largeness `
` of the sum. `
` `
` "Silence!" shouted the constable. `
` `
` "And inasmuch," continued the judge, "as it is not proved that `
` the act was not done by the connivance of the master with the servant, `
` and as the master in any case must be held responsible for the acts `
` of his paid servant, I condemn Phileas Fogg to a week's imprisonment `
` and a fine of one hundred and fifty pounds." `
` `
` Fix rubbed his hands softly with satisfaction; if Phileas Fogg `
` could be detained in Calcutta a week, it would be more than time `
` for the warrant to arrive. Passepartout was stupefied. This sentence `
` ruined his master. A wager of twenty thousand pounds lost, because he, `
` like a precious fool, had gone into that abominable pagoda! `
` `
` Phileas Fogg, as self-composed as if the judgment did not `
` in the least concern him, did not even lift his eyebrows while `
` it was being pronounced. Just as the clerk was calling the next case, `
` he rose, and said, "I offer bail." `
` `
` "You have that right," returned the judge. `
` `
` Fix's blood ran cold, but he resumed his composure when he heard `
` the judge announce that the bail required for each prisoner `
` would be one thousand pounds. `
` `
` "I will pay it at once," said Mr. Fogg, taking a roll of bank-bills `
` from the carpet-bag, which Passepartout had by him, and placing them `
` on the clerk's desk. `
` `
` "This sum will be restored to you upon your release from prison," `
` said the judge. "Meanwhile, you are liberated on bail." `
` `
` "Come!" said Phileas Fogg to his servant. `
` `
` "But let them at least give me back my shoes!" cried Passepartout angrily. `
` `
` "Ah, these are pretty dear shoes!" he muttered, as they were handed to him. `
` "More than a thousand pounds apiece; besides, they pinch my feet." `
` `
` Mr. Fogg, offering his arm to Aouda, then departed, followed `
` by the crestfallen Passepartout. Fix still nourished hopes `
` that the robber would not, after all, leave the two thousand pounds `
` behind him, but would decide to serve out his week in jail, `
` and issued forth on Mr. Fogg's traces. That gentleman took a carriage, `
` and the party were soon landed on one of the quays. `
` `
` The Rangoon was moored half a mile off in the harbour, its signal `
` of departure hoisted at the mast-head. Eleven o'clock was striking; `
` Mr. Fogg was an hour in advance of time. Fix saw them leave the carriage and `
` push off in a boat for the steamer, and stamped his feet with disappointment. `
` `
` "The rascal is off, after all!" he exclaimed. "Two thousand pounds sacrificed! `
` He's as prodigal as a thief! I'll follow him to the end of the world `
` if necessary; but, at the rate he is going on, the stolen money will `
` soon be exhausted." `
` `
` The detective was not far wrong in making this conjecture. `
` Since leaving London, what with travelling expenses, bribes, `
` the purchase of the elephant, bails, and fines, Mr. Fogg `
` had already spent more than five thousand pounds on the way, `
` and the percentage of the sum recovered from the bank robber `
` promised to the detectives, was rapidly diminishing. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter XVI `
` `
` IN WHICH FIX DOES NOT SEEM TO UNDERSTAND `
` IN THE LEAST WHAT IS SAID TO HIM `
` `
` `
` The Rangoon--one of the Peninsular and Oriental Company's boats `
` plying in the Chinese and Japanese seas--was a screw steamer, `
` built of iron, weighing about seventeen hundred and seventy tons, `
` and with engines of four hundred horse-power. She was as fast, `
` but not as well fitted up, as the Mongolia, and Aouda was not as `
` comfortably provided for on board of her as Phileas Fogg could have wished. `
` However, the trip from Calcutta to Hong Kong only comprised some `
` three thousand five hundred miles, occupying from ten to twelve days, `
` and the young woman was not difficult to please. `
` `
` During the first days of the journey Aouda became better acquainted `
` with her protector, and constantly gave evidence of her deep gratitude `
` for what he had done. The phlegmatic gentleman listened to her, `
` apparently at least, with coldness, neither his voice nor his manner `
` betraying the slightest emotion; but he seemed to be always on the watch `
` that nothing should be wanting to Aouda's comfort. He visited her `
` regularly each day at certain hours, not so much to talk himself, `
` as to sit and hear her talk. He treated her with the strictest politeness, `
` but with the precision of an automaton, the movements of which had been `
` arranged for this purpose. Aouda did not quite know what to make of him, `
` though Passepartout had given her some hints of his master's eccentricity, `
` and made her smile by telling her of the wager which was sending him `
` round the world. After all, she owed Phileas Fogg her life, and she `
` always regarded him through the exalting medium of her gratitude. `
` `
` Aouda confirmed the Parsee guide's narrative of her touching history. `
` She did, indeed, belong to the highest of the native races of India. `
`