Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.I-VI
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, after 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, 158+; 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 account of everything needed, `
` and Mr. Fogg always knew whether he was behind-hand 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 wont `
` to see foreign countries through the eyes of their domestics. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter VIII `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TALKS RATHER MORE, PERHAPS, THAN IS PRUDENT `
` `
` `
` Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was lounging and looking about `
` on the quay, as if he did not feel that he, at least, was obliged `
` not to see anything. `
` `
` "Well, my friend," said the detective, coming up with him, `
` "is your passport visaed?" `
` `
` "Ah, it's you, is it, monsieur?" responded Passepartout. `
` "Thanks, yes, the passport is all right." `
` `
` "And you are looking about you?" `
` `
` "Yes; but we travel so fast that I seem to be journeying in a dream. `
` So this is Suez?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "In Egypt?" `
` `
` "Certainly, in Egypt." `
` `
` "And in Africa?" `
` `
` "In Africa." `
` `
` "In Africa!" repeated Passepartout. "Just think, monsieur, `
` I had no idea that we should go farther than Paris; and all that I `
` saw of Paris was between twenty minutes past seven and twenty `
` minutes before nine in the morning, between the Northern and `
` the Lyons stations, through the windows of a car, and in a `
` driving rain! How I regret not having seen once more Pere la Chaise `
` and the circus in the Champs Elysees!" `
` `
` "You are in a great hurry, then?" `
` `
` "I am not, but my master is. By the way, I must buy some shoes and shirts. `
` We came away without trunks, only with a carpet-bag." `
` `
` "I will show you an excellent shop for getting what you want." `
` `
` "Really, monsieur, you are very kind." `
` `
` And they walked off together, Passepartout chatting volubly `
` as they went along. `
` `
` "Above all," said he; "don't let me lose the steamer." `
` `
` "You have plenty of time; it's only twelve o'clock." `
` `
` Passepartout pulled out his big watch. "Twelve!" he exclaimed; `
` "why, it's only eight minutes before ten." `
` `
` "Your watch is slow." `
` `
` "My watch? A family watch, monsieur, which has come down from `
` my great-grandfather! It doesn't vary five minutes in the year. `
` It's a perfect chronometer, look you." `
` `
` "I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept London time, `
` which is two hours behind that of Suez. You ought to regulate `
` your watch at noon in each country." `
` `
` "I regulate my watch? Never!" `
` `
` "Well, then, it will not agree with the sun." `
` `
` "So much the worse for the sun, monsieur. The sun will be wrong, then!" `
` `
` And the worthy fellow returned the watch to its fob with a `
` defiant gesture. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed: `
` "You left London hastily, then?" `
` `
` "I rather think so! Last Friday at eight o'clock in the evening, `
` Monsieur Fogg came home from his club, and three-quarters of an hour `
` afterwards we were off." `
` `
`
` `
` 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, after 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, 158+; 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 account of everything needed, `
` and Mr. Fogg always knew whether he was behind-hand 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 wont `
` to see foreign countries through the eyes of their domestics. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter VIII `
` `
` IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT TALKS RATHER MORE, PERHAPS, THAN IS PRUDENT `
` `
` `
` Fix soon rejoined Passepartout, who was lounging and looking about `
` on the quay, as if he did not feel that he, at least, was obliged `
` not to see anything. `
` `
` "Well, my friend," said the detective, coming up with him, `
` "is your passport visaed?" `
` `
` "Ah, it's you, is it, monsieur?" responded Passepartout. `
` "Thanks, yes, the passport is all right." `
` `
` "And you are looking about you?" `
` `
` "Yes; but we travel so fast that I seem to be journeying in a dream. `
` So this is Suez?" `
` `
` "Yes." `
` `
` "In Egypt?" `
` `
` "Certainly, in Egypt." `
` `
` "And in Africa?" `
` `
` "In Africa." `
` `
` "In Africa!" repeated Passepartout. "Just think, monsieur, `
` I had no idea that we should go farther than Paris; and all that I `
` saw of Paris was between twenty minutes past seven and twenty `
` minutes before nine in the morning, between the Northern and `
` the Lyons stations, through the windows of a car, and in a `
` driving rain! How I regret not having seen once more Pere la Chaise `
` and the circus in the Champs Elysees!" `
` `
` "You are in a great hurry, then?" `
` `
` "I am not, but my master is. By the way, I must buy some shoes and shirts. `
` We came away without trunks, only with a carpet-bag." `
` `
` "I will show you an excellent shop for getting what you want." `
` `
` "Really, monsieur, you are very kind." `
` `
` And they walked off together, Passepartout chatting volubly `
` as they went along. `
` `
` "Above all," said he; "don't let me lose the steamer." `
` `
` "You have plenty of time; it's only twelve o'clock." `
` `
` Passepartout pulled out his big watch. "Twelve!" he exclaimed; `
` "why, it's only eight minutes before ten." `
` `
` "Your watch is slow." `
` `
` "My watch? A family watch, monsieur, which has come down from `
` my great-grandfather! It doesn't vary five minutes in the year. `
` It's a perfect chronometer, look you." `
` `
` "I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept London time, `
` which is two hours behind that of Suez. You ought to regulate `
` your watch at noon in each country." `
` `
` "I regulate my watch? Never!" `
` `
` "Well, then, it will not agree with the sun." `
` `
` "So much the worse for the sun, monsieur. The sun will be wrong, then!" `
` `
` And the worthy fellow returned the watch to its fob with a `
` defiant gesture. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed: `
` "You left London hastily, then?" `
` `
` "I rather think so! Last Friday at eight o'clock in the evening, `
` Monsieur Fogg came home from his club, and three-quarters of an hour `
` afterwards we were off." `
` `
`