around the world in 80 days(环游世界80天)-第7节

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‘We'll　see　about　that；'　replied　Fix。　
‘But　are　you　not　mistaken？'　
‘I　am　not　mistaken。'　
‘Why　was　this　robber　so　anxious　to　prove；　by　the　visa；　that　he　had　passed　through　Suez？'　
‘Why？　I　have　no　idea；　but　listen　to　me。'　
He　reported　in　a　few　words　the　most　important　parts　of　his　conversation　with　Passepartout。　
‘In　short；'　said　the　consul；　‘appearances　are　wholly　against　this　man。　And　what　are　you　going　to　do？'　
‘Send　a　despatch　to　London　for　a　warrant　of　arrest　to　be　despatched　instantly　to　Bombay；　take　passage　on　board　the　〃Mongolia〃；　follow　my　rogue　to　India；　and　there；　on　English　ground；　arrest　him　politely；　with　my　warrant　in　my　hand；　and　my　hand　on　his　shoulder。'　
Having　uttered　these　words　with　a　cool；　careless　air；　the　detective　took　leave　of　the　consul；　and　repaired　to　the　telegraph　office；　whence　he　sent　the　despatch　which　we　have　seen　to　the　London　police　office。　A　quarter　of　an　hour　later　found　Fix；　with　a　small　bag　in　his　hand；　proceeding　on　board　the　‘Mongolia'；　and　ere　many　moments　longer；　the　noble　steamer　rode　out　at　full　steam　upon　the　waters　of　the　Red　Sea。　


CHAPTER　IX
IN　WHICH　THE　RED　SEA　AND　THE　INDIAN　OCEAN　PROVE　PROPITIOUS　TO　THE　DESIGNS　OF　PHILEAS　FOGG。

The　distance　between　Suez　and　Aden　is　precisely　thirteen　hundred　and　ten　miles；　and　the　regulations　of　the　company　allow　the　steamers　one　hundred　and　thirty…eight　hours　in　which　to　traverse　it。　The　‘Mongolia'；　thanks　to　the　vigorous　exertions　of　the　engineer；　seemed　likely；　so　rapid　was　her　speed；　to　reach　her　destination　considerably　within　that　time。　The　greater　part　of　the　passengers　from　Brindisi　were　bound　for　India　…　some　for　Bombay；　others　for　Calcutta　by　way　of　Bombay；　the　nearest　route　thither；　now　that　a　railway　crosses　the　Indian　peninsula。　Among　the　passengers　was　a　number　of　officials　and　military　officers　of　various　grades；　the　latter　being　either　attached　to　the　regular　British　forces；　or　commanding　the　Sepoy　troops　and　receiving　high　salaries　ever　since　the　central　government　has　assumed　the　powers　of　the　East　India　Company：　for　the　sub…lieutenants　get　280l。；　brigadiers；　2400l。；　and　generals　of　division；　4000l。　What　with　the　military　men；　a　number　of　rich　young　Englishmen　on　their　travels；　and　the　hospitable　efforts　of　the　purser；　the　time　passed　quickly　on　the　‘Mongolia'。　The　best　of　fare　was　spread　upon　the　cabin　tables　at　breakfast；　lunch；　dinner　and　the　eight　o'clock　supper；　and　the　ladies　scrupulously　changed　their　toilets　twice　a　day；　and　the　hours　were　whiled　away；　when　the　sea　was　tranquil；　with　music；　dancing　and　games。　
But　the　Red　Sea　is　full　of　caprice；　and　often　boisterous；　like　most　long　and　narrow　gulfs。　When　the　wind　came　from　the　African　or　Asian　coast　the　‘Mongolia'；　with　her　long　hull；　rolled　fearfully。　Then　the　ladies　speedily　disappeared　below；　the　pianos　were　silent；　singing　and　dancing　suddenly　ceased。　Yet　the　good　ship　ploughed　straight　on；　unretarded　by　wind　or　wave；　towards　the　straits　of　Bab…el…Mandeb。　What　was　Phileas　Fogg　doing　all　this　time？　It　might　be　thought　that；　in　his　anxiety；　he　would　be　constantly　watching　the　changes　of　the　wind；　the　disorderly　raging　of　the　billows　…　every　chance；　in　short；　which　might　force　the　‘Mongolia'　to　slacken　her　speed；　and　thus　interrupt　his　journey。　But　if　he　thought　of　these　possibilities；　he　did　not　betray　the　fact　by　any　outward　sign。　
Always　the　same　impassable　member　of　the　Reform　Club；　whom　no　incident　could　surprise；　as　unvarying　as　the　ship's　chronometers；　and　seldom　having　the　curiosity　even　to　go　upon　the　deck；　he　passed　through　the　memorable　scenes　of　the　Red　Sea　with　cold　indifference；　did　not　care　to　recognize　the　historic　towns　and　villages　which；　along　its　borders；　raised　their　picturesque　outlines　against　the　sky；　and　betrayed　no　fear　of　the　dangers　of　the　Arabic　Gulf；　which　the　old　historians　always　spoke　of　with　horror；　and　upon　which　the　ancient　navigators　never　ventured　without　propitiating　the　gods　by　ample　sacrifices。　How　did　this　eccentric　personage　pass　the　time　on　the　‘Mongolia'？　He　made　his　four　hearty　meals　every　day；　regardless　of　the　most　persistent　rolling　and　pitching　on　the　part　of　the　steamer；　and　he　played　whist　indefatigably；　for　he　had　found　partners　as　enthusiastic　in　the　game　as　himself。　A　tax　collector；　on　the　way　to　his　post　at　Goa；　the　Rev　Decimus　Smith；　returning　to　his　parish　at　Bombay；　and　a　brigadier…general　of　the　English　army；　who　was　about　to　rejoin　his　brigade　at　Benares；　made　up　the　party；　and；　with　Mr　Fogg；　played　whist　by　the　hour　together　in　absorbing　silence。　
As　for　Passepartout；　he；　too；　had　escaped　seasickness；　and　took　his　meals　conscientiously　in　the　forward　cabin。　He　rather　enjoyed　the　voyage；　for　he　was　well　fed　and　well　lodged；　took　a　great　interest　in　the　scenes　through　which　they　were　passing；　and　consoled　himself　with　the　delusion　that　his　master's　whim　would　end　at　Bombay。　He　was　pleased；　on　the　day　after　leaving　Suez；　to　find　on　deck　the　obliging　person　with　whom　he　had　walked　and　chatted　on　the　quays。　
‘If　I　am　not　mistaken；'　said　he；　approaching　this　person　with　his　most　amiable　smile；　‘you　are　the　gentleman　who　so　kindly　volunteered　to　guide　me　at　Suez？'　
‘Ah！　I　quite　recognize　you。　You　are　the　servant　of　the　strange　Englishman'　
‘Just　so；　Monsieur'　
‘Fix。'　
‘Monsieur　Fix；'　resumed　Passepartout；　‘I'm　charmed　to　find　you　on　board。　Where　are　you　bound？'　
‘Like　you；　to　Bombay。'　
‘That's　capital！　Have　you　made　this　trip　before？'　
‘Several　times。　I　am　one　of　the　agents　of　the　Peninsula　Company。'　
‘Then　you　know　India？'　
‘Why　…　yes；'　replied　Fix；　who　spoke　cautiously。　
‘A　curious　place；　this　India？'　
‘Oh；　very　curious。　Mosques；　minarets；　temples；　fakirs；　pagodas；　tigers；　snakes；　elephants！　I　hope　you　will　have　ample　time　to　see　the　sights。'　
‘I　hope　so；　Monsieur　Fix。　You　see；　a　man　of　sound　sense　ought　not　to　spend　his　life　jumping　from　a　steamer　upon　a　railway　train；　and　from　a　railway　train　upon　a　steamer　again；　pretending　to　make　the　tour　of　the　world　in　eighty　days！　No；　all　these　gymnastics；　you　may　be　sure；　will　cease　at　Bombay。'　
‘And　Mr　Fogg　is　getting　on　well？'　asked　Fix；　in　the　most　natural　tone　in　the　world。　
‘Quite　well；　and　I　too。　I　eat　like　a　famished　ogre；　it；　the　sea　air。'　
‘But　I　never　see　your　master　on　deck。'　
‘Never；　he　hasn't　the　least　curiosity。'　
‘Do　you　know；　Mr　Passepartout；　that　this　pretended　tour　in　eighty　days　may　conceal　some　secret　errand　…　perhaps　a　diplomatic　mission？'　
‘Faith；　Monsieur　Fix；　I　assure　you　I　know　nothing　about　it；　nor　would　I　give　half…a…crown　to　find　out。'　
After　this　meeting；　Passepartout　and　Fix　got　into　the　habit　of　chatting　together；　the　latter　making　it　a　point　to　gain　the　worthy　man's　confidence。　He　frequently　offered　him　a　glass　of　whisky　or　pale　ale　in　the　steamer　bar…　room；　which　Passepartout　never　failed　to　accept　with　graceful　alacrity；　mentally　pronouncing　Fix　the　best　of　good　fellows。　
Meanwhile　the　‘Mongolia'　was　pushing　forward　rapidly；　on　the　13th；　Mocha；　surrounded　by　its　ruined　walls　whereon　date…trees　were　growing；　was　sighted；　and　on　the　mountains　beyond　were　espied　vast　coffee…fields。　Passepartout　was　ravished　to　behold　this　celebrated　place；　and　thought　that；　with　its　circular　walls　and　dismantled　fort；　it　looked　like　an　immense　coffee　cup　and　saucer。　The　following　night　they　passed　through　the　Strait　of　Bab…el…Mandeb；　which　means　in　Arabic　‘The　Bridge　of　Tears'；　and　the　next　day　they　put　in　at　Steamer　Point；　north…west　of　Aden　harbour；　to　take　in　coal。　This　matter　of　fuelling　steamers　is　a　serious　one　at　such　distances　from　the　coal　mines；　it　costs　the　Peninsular　Company　some　eight　hundred　thousand　pounds　a　year。　In　these　distant　seas；　coal　is　worth　three　or　four　pounds　sterling　a　ton。　
The　‘Mongolia'　had　still　sixteen　hundred　and　fifty　miles　to　traverse　before　reaching　Bombay；　and　was　obliged　to　remain　four　hours　at　Steamer　Point　to　coal　up。　But　this　delay；　as　it　was　foreseen；　did　not　affect　Phileas　Fogg's　programme；　besides；　the　‘Mongolia'；　instead　of　reaching　Aden　on　the　morning　of　the　15th；　when　she　was　due；　arrived　there　on　the　evening　of　the　14th；　a　gain　of　fifteen　hours。　
Mr　Fogg　and　his　servant　went　ashore　at　Aden　to　have　the　passport　again　visaed；　Fix；　unobserved；　followed　them。　The　visa　procured；　Mr　Fogg　returned　on　board　to　resume　his　former　habits；　while　Passepartout；　according　to　custom；　sauntered　about　among　the　mixed　population　of　Somalis；　Banyans；　Parsees；　Jews；　Arabs　and　Europeans　who　comprise　the　twenty…five　thousand　inhabitants　of　Aden。　He　gazed　with　wonder　upon　the　fortifications　which　make　this　place　the　Gibraltar　of　the　Indian　Ocean；　and　the　vast　cisterns　where　the　English　engineers　were　still　at　work；　two　thousand　years　after　the　engineers　of　Solomon。　
‘Very　curious；　very　curious；'　said　Passepartout　to　himself；　on　returning　to　the　steamer。　‘I　see　that　it　is　by　no　means　useless　to　travel；　if　a　man　wants　to　see　something　new。'　At　six　p。m。　the　‘Mongolia'　slowly　moved　out　of　the　roadstead；　and　was　soon　once　more　on　the　Indian　Ocean。　She　had　a　hundred　and　sixty…eight　hours　in　which　to　reach　Bombay；　and　the　sea　was　favourable；　the　wind　being　in　the　north…west；　and　all　sails　aiding　the　engine。　The　steamer　rolled　but　little；　the　ladies；　in　fresh　toilets；　reappeared　on　deck；　and　the　singing　and