around the world in 80 days(环游世界80天)-第5章
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exciting topic of conversation to its members。 From the Club it soon got into the papers throughout England。 The boasted ‘tour of the world' was talked about； disputed； argued with as much warmth as if the subject were another Alabama claim。 Some took sides with Phileas Fogg； but the large majority shook their heads and declared against him； it was absurd； impossible； they declared； that the tour of the world could be made； except theoretically and on paper； in this minimum of time； and with the existing means of travelling。 The Times； Standard； Morning Post； and Daily New； and twenty other highly respectable newspapers scouted Mr Fogg's project as madness； the Daily Telegraph alone hesitatingly supported him。 People in general thought him a lunatic； and blamed his Reform Club friends for having accepted a wager which betrayed the mental aberration of its proposer。
Articles no less passionate than logical appeared on the question； for geography is one of the pet subjects of the English； and the columns devoted to Phileas Fogg's venture were eagerly devoured by all classes of readers。 At first some rash individuals； principally of the gentler sex； espoused his cause； which became still more popular when the Illustrated London News came out with his portrait； copied from a photograph in the Reform Club。 A few readers of the Daily Telegraph even dared to say； ‘Why not； after all？ Stranger things have come to pass。'
At last a long article appeared； on the 7th of October； in the bulletin of the Royal Geographical Society； which treated the question from every point of view； and demonstrated the utter folly of the enterprise。
Everything； it said； was against the travellers； every obstacle imposed alike by man and by nature。 A miraculous agreement of the times of departure and arrival； which was impossible； was absolutely necessary to his success。 He might； perhaps； reckon on the arrival of trains at the designated hours； in Europe； where the distances were relatively moderate； but when he calculated upon crosSing India in three days； and the United States in seven； could he rely beyond misgiving upon accomplishing his task？ There were accidents to machinery； the liability of trains to run off the line； collisions； bad weather； the blocking up by snow； … were not all these against Phileas Fogg？ Would he not find himself； when travelling by steamer in winter； at the merry of the winds and fogs？ Is it uncommon for the best ocean steamers to be two or three days behind time？ But a single delay would suffice to fatally break the chain of communication； should Phileas Fogg once miss； even by an hour； a steamer； he would have to wait for the next； and that would irrevocably render his attempt vain。
This article made a great deal of noise； and being copied into all the papers； seriously depressed the advocates of the rash tourist。
Everybody knows that England is the world of betting men； who are of a higher class than mere gamblers； to bet is in the English temperament。 Not only the members of the Reform； but the general public； made heavy wagers for or against Phileas Fogg； who was set down in the betting books as if he were a race…horse。 Bonds were issued； and made their appearance on 'Change； ‘Phileas Fogg bonds' were offered at par or at a premium； and a great business was done in them。 But five days after the article in the bulletin of the Geographical Society appeared； the demand began to subside： ‘Phileas Fogg' declined。 They were offered by packages； at first of five； then of ten； until at last nobody would take less than twenty； fifty； a hundred！
Lord Albermarle； an elderly paralytic gentleman； was now the only advocate of Phileas Fogg left。 This noble lord； who was fastened to his chair； would have given his fortune to be able to make the tour of the world； if it took ten years； and bet five thousand pounds on Phileas Fogg。 When the folly as well as the uselessness of the adventure was pointed out to him； he contented himself with replying； ‘If the thing is feasible； the first to do it ought to be an Englishman。'
The Fogg party dwindled more and more； everybody was going against him； and the bets stood a hundred and fifty and two hundred to one； and a week after his departure an incident occurred which deprived him of backers at any price。
The commissioner of police was sitting in his office at nine o'clock one evening； when the following telegraphic despatch was put into his hands：
Suez to London。 ROWAN； COMMISSIONER OF POLICE； SCOTLAND YARD：
I've found the bank robber； Phileas Fogg。 Send without delay warrant of arrest to Bombay。
FIX； Detective。
The effect of this despatch was instantaneous。 The polished gentleman disappeared to give place to the bank robber。 His photograph； which was hung with those of the rest of the members at the Reform Club； was minutely examined； and it betrayed； feature by feature； the description of the robber which had been provided to the police。 The mysterious habits of Phileas Fogg were recalled； his solitary ways； his sudden departure； and it seemed clear that； in undertaking a tour round the world on the pretext of a wager； he had had no other end in view than to elude the detectives； and throw them off his track。
CHAPTER VI
IN WHICH FIX； THE DETECTIVE； BETRAYS A VERY NATURAL IMPATIENCE。
The circumstances under which this telegraphic despatch about Phileas Fogg was sent were as follows：
The steamer ‘Mongolia'； belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Company； built of iron； of two thousand eight hundred tons burden； and five hundred horse … power； was due at eleven o'clock a。m。 on Wednesday； the 9th of October； at Suez。 The ‘Mongolia' plied regularly between Brindisi and Bombay via the Suez Canal； and was one of the fastest steamers belonging to the company； always making more than ten knots an hour between Brindisi and Suez； and nine and a half between Suez and Bombay。
Two men were promenading up and down the wharves； among the crowd of natives and strangers who were sojourning at this once straggling village … now； thanks to the enterprise of M。 Lesseps； a fast…growing town。 One was the British consul at Suez； who； despite the prophecies of the English Government； and the unfavourable predictions of Stephenson； was in the habit of seeing； from his office window； English ships daily passing to and fro on the great canal； by which the old roundabout route from England to India by the Cape of Good Hope was abridged by at least a half。 The other was a small； slight…built personage； with a nervous； intelligent face； and bright eyes peering out from under eyebrows which he was incessantly twitching。 He was just now manifesting unmistakable signs of impatience； nervously pacing up and down； and unable to stand still for a moment。 This was Fix； one of the detectives who had been despatched from England in search of the bank robber； it was his task to narrowly watch every passenger who arrived at Suez； and to follow up all who seemed to be suspicious characters； or bore a resemblance to the description of the criminal； which he had received two days before from the police headquarters at London。 The detective was evidently inspired by the hope of obtaining the splendid reward which would be the prize of success； and awaited with a feverish impatience； easy to understand； the arrival of the steamer ‘Mongolia'。
‘So you say； consul；' asked he for the twentieth time； ‘that this steamer is never behind time？'
‘No； Mr Fix；' replied the consul。 ‘She was bespoken yesterday at Port Said； and the rest of the way is of no account to such a craft。 I repeat that the ‘Mongolia' has been in advance of the time required by the company's regulations； and gained the prize awarded for excess of speed。'
‘Does she come directly from Brindisi？'
‘Directly from Brindisi； she takes on the Indian mails there； and she left there Saturday at five p。m。 Have patience； Mr Fix； she will not be late。 But really I don't see how； frthe description you have； you will be able to recognize your man； even if he is on board the 〃Mongolia〃。'
‘A man rather feels the presence of these fellows； consul； than recognizes them。 You must have a scent for them； and a scent is like a sixth sense which combines hearing
