登陆注册
3652000000069

第69章

IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG AT LAST REACHES LONDON.

Phileas Fogg was in prison.He had been shut up in the Custom House,and he was to be transferred to London the next day.

Passepartout,when he saw his master arrested,would have fallen upon Fix had he not been held back by some policemen.Aouda was thunderstruck at the suddenness of an event which she could not understand.Passepartout explained to her how it was that the honest and courageous Fogg was arrested as a robber.The young woman's heart revolted against so heinous a charge,and when she saw that she could attempt or do nothing to save her protector,she wept bitterly.

As for Fix,he had arrested Mr Fogg because it was his duty,whether Mr Fogg were guilty or not.

The thought then struck Passepartout,that he was the cause of this new misfortune!Had he not concealed Fix's errand from his master?When Fix revealed his true character and purpose,why had he not told Mr Fogg?If the latter had been warned,he would no doubt have given Fix proof of his innocence,and satisfied him of his mistake;at least,Fix would not have continued his journey at the expense and on the heels of his master,only to arrest him the moment he set foot on English soil.Passepartout wept till he was blind,and felt like blowing his brains out.

Aouda and he had remained,despite the cold,under the portico of the Custom House.Neither wished to leave the place;both were anxious to see Mr Fogg again.

That gentleman was really ruined,and that at the moment when he was about to attain his end.This arrest was fatal.Having arrived at Liverpool at twenty minutes before twelve on the 21st of December,he had till a quarter before nine that evening to reach the Reform Club,that is,nine hours and a quarter;the journey from Liverpool to London was six hours.

If anyone,at this moment,had entered the Custom House,he would have found Mr Fogg seated,motionless,calm,and without apparent anger,upon a wooden bench.He was not,it is true,resigned;but this last blow failed to force him into an outward betrayal of any emotion.Was he being devoured by one of those secret rages,all the more terrible because contained,and which only burst forth,with an irresistible force,at the last moment?No one could tell.There he sat,calmly waiting-for what?Did he still cherish hope?Did he still believe,now that the door of this prison was closed upon him,that he would succeed?

However that may have been,Mr Fogg carefully put his watch upon the table,and observed its advancing hands.Not a word escaped his lips,but his look was singularly set and stern.The situation,in any event,was a terrible one,and might be thus stated:If Phileas Fogg was honest he was ruined;if he was a knave,he was caught.

Did escape occur to him?Did he examine to see if there were any practicable outlet from his prison?Did he think of escaping from it?Possibly;for once he walked slowly around the room.But the door was locked,and the window heavily barred with iron rods.He sat down again,and drew his journal from his pocket.On the line where these words were written,December 21st,Saturday,Liverpool,he added,80th day,11.40 a.m.,and waited.

The Custom House clock struck one.Mr Fogg observed that his watch was two hours too fast.

Two hours!Admitting that he was at this moment taking an express train;he could reach London and the Reform Club by a quarter before nine,P.M.His forehead slightly wrinkled.

At thirty-three minutes past two he heard a singular noise outside,then a hasty opening of doors.Passepartout's voice was audible,and immediately after that of Fix.Phileas Fogg's eyes brightened for an instant.

The door swung open,and he saw Passepartout,Aouda and Fix,who hurried towards him.

Fix was out of breath,and his hair was in disorder.He could not speak.Sir,he stammered,Sir-forgive me-a most-unfortunate resemblance-robber arrested three days ago-you-are free!

Phileas Fogg was free!He walked to the detective,looked him steadily in the face,and with the only rapid motion he had ever made in his life,or which he ever would make,drew back his arms,and with the precision of a machine,knocked Fix down.

Well hit!cried Passepartout.Parbleu!that's what you might call a good application of English fists!

Fix,who found himself on the floor,did not utter a word.He had only received his deserts.Mr Fogg,Aouda and Passepartout left the Custom House without delay,got into a cab,and in a few moments descended at the station.

Phileas Fogg asked if there was an express train about to leave for London.It was forty minutes past two.The express train had left thirty-five minutes before.

Phileas Fogg then ordered a special train.

There were several rapid locomotives on hand;but the railway arrangements did not permit the special train to leave until three o'clock.

At that hour Phileas Fogg,having stimulated the engineer by the offer of a generous reward,at last set out towards London with Aouda and his faithful servant.

It was necessary to make the journey in five hours and a half;and this would have been easy on a clear road throughout.But there were forced delays,and when Mr Fogg stepped from the train at the terminus,all the clocks in London were striking ten minutes before nine.

Having made the tour of the world,he was behindhand five minutes.He had lost the wager!

同类推荐
  • 虚空藏菩萨神咒经

    虚空藏菩萨神咒经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 列祖提纲录

    列祖提纲录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 痰门

    痰门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

    The Expedition of Humphry Clinker

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 君臣下

    君臣下

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我的原罪是爱你

    我的原罪是爱你

    圣经上说:因为亚当和夏娃违背了上帝,偷吃了禁果,所以人类生而有罪。骆月的原罪来自仇怨。而言哲的原罪来自爱情。女主:骆月男主:言哲其他配角:言思,秦安泽,卫文扬
  • 扁鹊神应针灸玉龙经

    扁鹊神应针灸玉龙经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 相依之诗(中国好小说)

    相依之诗(中国好小说)

    世上风景万千。但倘若有一人相伴,不管是漫天黄沙,或是晴空万里,抑或是雪雨纷飞,都是人世间最独一无二的景致。所以一个人的生活过成一首诗,也许只需要细腻的心;两个人的生活想过成一首诗,就需要彼此爱的扶持。
  • 彼岸流年歌未央

    彼岸流年歌未央

    【新文《易烊千玺:北海以北的等待》已发,欢迎入坑】 她曾经小心地、卑微地、无畏地爱了他很久很久。趁着她的酒意,他问她“累吗?”她脱口而口“累啊,当然累啊”他心疼的摸了摸她眼角未干的泪水“既然累,为什么还要继续呢?”她笑着说“因为喜欢啊”问她的包里为什么总带把伞,她说“如果下雨的话,没有人接也没有人愿意陪你淋雨,站也不是,走也不是,像个可怜的笑话。”
  • 跟大卫·哈维读《资本论》(第一卷)

    跟大卫·哈维读《资本论》(第一卷)

    我的目的是促使你们去阅读卡尔·马克思的《资本论》第一卷,并且按照马克思的本意去阅读它。我所鼓励的是你个人面对这一文本的经历,是直接对马克思的文本进行研读,是你将开始形成对他思想的独立见解。马克思的本意是辩证的,我们必须在阅读《资本论》时,首先采取一种辩证的态度。在19世纪五六十年代,马克思对资本主义世界的理解和说明是简明易懂的。但当前世界已经发生了巨大的变化,所以我们必须不断提出新的问题:在我们这个时代应该如何运用这一文本?所以在本书中,我也加入了自己关于《资本论》与当今世界的相关性,以及在阅读《资本论》文本中显然最符合时代发展趋势的观点。
  • 海底小神探

    海底小神探

    圣诞夜,小男孩盖茨许下了一个特殊的愿望,慈祥的圣诞老人满足了他,把他送到了海底世界。在那里,他不但能自由呼吸,还能游动得很快。可是,海底世界接连发生了一桩桩离奇的案件:运动员飞鱼神秘失踪,海底鱼类内脏失窃,海鳗先生中毒身亡……这背后,到底是谁在作怪?盖茨在这个第一次踏足的神奇世界里又会有怎样的遭遇呢?就让海底小神探,带你揭晓答案吧!——情节虚构,请勿模仿。
  • 列宁的故事

    列宁的故事

    2009年1月21日,是无产阶级革命伟大导师列宁逝世85周年的日子。寒风中,数百名俄罗斯共产党党员和普遍民众,聚集在莫斯科红场的列宁墓前,举行盛大集会,纪念曾经震撼世界的伟人。俄共领导人久加诺夫在集会上的讲话,表达了今天俄罗斯人对列宁的深切怀念。他说:“去年在俄罗斯电视台举办了‘俄罗斯名人’专题节目,期间有4500万人以各种形式参与节目的投票活动。最初,当这个节目没有完全按‘指挥棒’进行时,列宁和斯大林的名字一直排在前面几位。一些人企图诬蔑苏联时代,歪曲列宁的理想和事业,但他们丝毫没有得逞。苏联时期是俄罗斯这个国家的顶峰。弗拉基米尔·伊里奇·列宁奠定了这个时代的基础。”
  • 日落危城

    日落危城

    一段民国抗战的奇闻怪谈,一部写尽东方精怪的历史大悬疑。抗战最激烈的年代,上万日寇兵围一座看起来毫无战略价值的空城绍德。决战前夜,守城指挥官师长俞万程、陈参谋、熊孝先身陷神秘的宏一法师之死事件。一幅《八仙东来图》,隐藏着宏一之死的秘密、日军围城的目标和能否守住绍德的关键;天皇家族的巫女、邪神与日本国宝,无尽凶险迫在眉睫。
  • 只对你有感觉

    只对你有感觉

    "电视台知名主持人尹洛曦在一场车祸后受伤,脸部留下疤痕,之后辞去工作,经营一家书店,并在做手术时认识了整形医生许诺。一天夜里,她被神秘人劫持上车,对方要她完成一件隐秘的事情。在进行调查的过程中,尹洛曦意外地发现在自己店里打工的大学生欧远竟然有另一种身份,她当初遭受的那场车祸也并非一场意外。除此之外,而劫持她的那些人的身份也渐渐彰显,许诺也因此身陷其中,重重阴谋逐渐浮上水面……两代人的爱恨情仇,风云突变的商界交锋,真真假假间,她的爱情与命运,又该何去何从?"
  • 听说学霸有点甜

    听说学霸有点甜

    在她眼中,唯有一个东西能够让她心起波澜,那便是物理。她是别人眼中“别人家”的孩子,可从没有人知道她曾经历过什么。那天,一眼钟情。从此除却物理,还有一个人让她心动不已。――“我从未认真努力过什么,可如今我却想努力的追你。”从校服到婚纱,原来一直都是你。『高考结束,致我最爱的物理。』