Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in Eighty Days. Жюль Верн

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СКАЧАТЬ he must go to the consul’s in person.”

      “Oh, is that necessary?”

      “Quite indispensable.”

      “And where is the consulate?”

      “There, on the corner of the square,” said Fix.

      “I’ll go and fetch my master.”

      The passenger bowed to Fix, and returned to the steamer.

      Chapter VII

      The detective passed down the quay, and rapidly came to the consul’s office.

      “Consul,” said he, without preamble[48], “I think that my man is a passenger on the Mongolia.”

      “Well, Mr. Fix,” replied the consul, “I want to see the rascal’s face; but perhaps he won’t come here. A robber doesn’t like to leave traces.”

      “If he is shrewd, consul, he will come.”

      “To have his passport visaed[49]?”

      “Yes. And I hope you will not visa the passport.”

      “Why not? If the passport is genuine[50] 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 business. But I cannot…”

      The consul did not finish his sentence. They heard a knock at the door, and two strangers entered. One of whom was the servant. The other was his master, and held out his passport. The consul took the document and carefully read it.

      “You are Mr. Phileas Fogg?” said the consul.

      “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 and went out. His servant followed him.

      “Well?” queried[51] the detective.

      “Well, he looks and acts like a perfectly honest man,” replied the consul.

      “Possibly. Do you think, consul, that this phlegmatic gentleman resembles the robber?”

      “I concede that; but then, you know…”

      “I’ll see,” interrupted Fix. “The servant is less mysterious than the master. Besides, he’s a Frenchman, and likes to talk. Excuse me, consul.”

      Chapter VIII

      Fix soon rejoined Passepartout on the quay.

      “Well, my friend,” said the detective, “is your passport visaed?”

      “Ah, it’s you, monsieur?” responded Passepartout. “Thanks, yes, the passport is all right. We travel so fast! So this is Suez?”

      “Yes.”

      “In Egypt?”

      “Certainly, in Egypt.”

      “And in Africa?”

      “In Africa.”

      “In Africa!” repeated Passepartout.

      “You are in a great hurry, then?”

      “I am not, but my master is. I must buy some shoes and shirts. We came away only with a carpet-bag.”

      “I will show you an excellent shop.”

      “Really, monsieur, you are very kind.”

      And they walked off together. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed:

      “You left London hastily, then?”

      “I 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.”

      “But where will your master go?”

      “Always straight ahead, round the world.”

      “Round the world?” cried Fix.

      “Yes, and in eighty days! He says it is on a wager; but I don’t believe it. There’s something else.”

      “Ah! Is Mr. Fogg rich?”

      “No doubt. He carries new banknotes with him. And he offered a large reward to the engineer of the Mongolia if he gets us to Bombay very fast.”

      “Do you know your master well?”

      “No; I entered his service the very day we left London.”

      The hasty departure from London soon after the robbery; the large sum that Mr. Fogg had; his eagerness[52] to reach distant countries-all confirmed Fix in his theory. He continued to ask poor Passepartout, and learned that he really knew little or nothing of his master, who lived in London, was rich, and was mysterious. Phileas Fogg won’t land at Suez, but will go to Bombay.

      “Is Bombay far from here?” asked Passepartout.

      “Yes. Ten days’ voyage by sea.”

      “And in what country is Bombay?”

      “India.”

      “In Asia?”

      “Certainly.”

      Fix and Passepartout reached the shop, where Fix left his companion and hurried back to the consulate. Now he was fully convinced.

      “Consul,” said he, “I have no doubt. That man wants to go round the world in eighty days.”

      “Then he’s a smart fellow,” returned the consul.

      Fix reported in a few words the most important parts СКАЧАТЬ