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“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 - eagerness – стремление] 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 of his conversation with Passepartout.
“So,” said the consul, “what will you do?”
“I’ll send a dispatch to London, follow my rogue to India, and there, on English ground, arrest him.”
Chapter IX
The distance between Suez and Aden is precisely thirteen hundred and ten miles. Many passengers from Brindisi were going to Bombay, others for Calcutta. Phileas Fogg seldom went upon the deck, and he played whist. Passepartout escaped sea-sickness, and rather enjoyed the voyage.
“Oh,” said Passepartout when he approached, “you are the gentleman who met me at Suez?”
“Ah! I quite recognise you. You are the servant of the strange Englishman.”
“Just so, monsieur…”
“Fix.”
“Monsieur Fix,” resumed Passepartout, “Where are you going?”
“Like you, to Bombay.”
“That’s great! Do you know India?”
“Yes,” replied Fix, who spoke cautiously.
“A curious place, this India?”
“Oh, very curious. Mosques, minarets, temples, fakirs, pagodas, tigers, snakes, elephants! And how is Mr. Fogg?” asked Fix.
“Quite well, and I too.”
“But I never see your master on deck.”
After this meeting, Passepartout and Fix talked much. Meanwhile the Mongolia went rapidly, and instead of the 15th, arrived to Aden on the evening of the 14th. Mr. Fogg and his servant went ashore at Aden to visa the passport. Fix followed them. Then Mr. Fogg returned on board. Passepartout sauntered about among the mixed population of Somalis, Banyans, Parsees, Jews, Arabs, and Europeans.
“Very curious, very curious,” said Passepartout to himself.
On Sunday, October 20th, towards noon, they saw the Indian coast. The Mongolia was at Bombay on the 20th.
Chapter X
India embraces fourteen hundred thousand square miles, its population is one hundred and eighty millions people. But British India only embraces seven hundred thousand square miles, and its population is from one hundred to one hundred and ten millions of inhabitants. A considerable portion of India is still free from British authority; and there are certain ferocious rajahs who are absolutely independent.
The passengers of the Mongolia went ashore at half-past four p.m. At eight the train will start for[53 - will start for – отправится] Calcutta. Mr. Fogg left the steamer, gave his servant several errands and directed his steps to the passport office. He did not care for the wonders of Bombay-its famous city hall, its splendid library, its forts and docks, its bazaars, mosques, synagogues, its Armenian churches, and the noble pagoda on Malabar Hill[54 - Malabar Hill – Малабар-Хилл].
Then Phileas Fogg repaired quietly to the railway station, where he ordered dinner. Among the dishes, the landlord especially recommended a “native rabbit”. Mr. Fogg accordingly tasted the dish, but found it horrible. He rang for the landlord, and, on his appearance, said,
“Is this rabbit, sir?”
“Yes, my lord,” the rogue boldly replied, “rabbit from the jungles.”
“And this rabbit did not mew when they killed it?”
“Mew, my lord! What, a rabbit can’t mew! I swear to you…”
“Landlord, remember this: in India, cats were sacred animals. That was a good time.”
“For the cats, my lord?”
“Perhaps for the travelers as well!”
Fix went on shore shortly after Mr. Fogg. His first destination was the Bombay police. He nervously asked if a warrant arrived from London. It did not reach the office. Fix was disappointed, and tried to obtain an order of arrest from the director of the Bombay police. The director refused.
Passepartout, however, purchased shirts and shoes and took a leisurely promenade about the streets. It was the day of a Parsee festival[55 - Parsee festival – праздник парсов]. These descendants of the sect of Zoroaster[56 - Zoroaster – Заратуштра (основатель зороастризма)] were celebrating a religious carnival, with processions and shows.
Unhappily for his master, Passepartout’s curiosity drew him very far. He saw the splendid pagoda on Malabar Hill. He was quite ignorant that it is forbidden to Christians to enter certain Indian temples, and that even the faithful must go in without their shoes.
Passepartout, however, went in like a simple tourist. He admired the splendid Brahmin ornamentation, but suddenly found himself on the sacred floor. He beheld three enraged priests, who tore off his shoes, and began to beat him with loud, savage exclamations. The agile Frenchman was soon upon his feet again, and ran away. Of course, he lost his package of shirts and shoes.
At five minutes before eight, Passepartout, hatless, shoeless rushed breathlessly into the station. Fix, who followed Mr. Fogg and saw that he was really going to leave Bombay, was there, upon the platform. He resolved to follow the supposed robber to Calcutta, and farther, if necessary. Passepartout did not observe the detective, who stood in an obscure corner.
“I hope that this will not happen again,” said Phileas Fogg coldly, as he got into the train.
Poor Passepartout followed his master without a word. Fix wanted to enter another carriage, when an idea came to him.
“No, I’ll stay,” muttered he.
Just then the locomotive gave a sharp screech, and the train passed out into the darkness of the night.
Chapter XI
There were many officers, government officials, and opium and indigo merchants among the passengers. They all went to the eastern coast. Passepartout rode in the same carriage with his master, and a third passenger occupied a seat[57 - occupied a seat – занял место] opposite to them. This was Sir Francis Cromarty[58 - Francis Cromarty – Фрэнсис Кромарти], one of Mr. Fogg’s whist partners on the Mongolia. He wanted to join his corps at Benares[59 - Benares – Бенарес (город в Индии, современное название – Варанаси)]. Sir Francis was a tall, fair man of fifty. He made India his home. He was almost familiar with the customs, history and character of India and its people. But Phileas Fogg did not inquire into these subjects.
Sir Francis Cromarty observed the oddity of his companion. Phileas Fogg did not conceal from Sir Francis his plan, nor all the circumstances. The general saw in the wager a useless eccentricity and a lack of common sense.
Passepartout did not realise that he was actually crossing India in a railway train. The travelers crossed the country of the goddess Kali[60 - Kali – Кали (богиня-разрушительница в индуизме)]. Not far off rose Ellora[61 - Ellora – Эллора], with its graceful pagodas, and the famous Aurungabad[62 - Aurungabad – Аурунгабад].
At half-past twelve the train stopped at Burhampoor[63 - Burhampoor – Бурхампур] where Passepartout was able to purchase some Indian slippers, ornamented with false pearls.
At eight o’clock the train stopped in the midst of a glade – fifteen miles beyond Rothal, where there were several bungalows, and workmen’s cabins. The conductor shouted,
“Passengers will get out here!”
Phileas Fogg looked at Sir Francis Cromarty for an explanation; but the general did not tell what that meant. Passepartout rushed out and speedily returned. He cried,
“Monsieur, no more railway!”
“What do you mean?” asked Sir Francis.
“I mean to say that the train isn’t going on.”
The general stepped out, while Phileas Fogg calmly followed him. They proceeded together to the conductor.
“Where are we?” asked Sir Francis.
“At the hamlet of Kholby[64 - hamlet of Kholby – посёлок Кольби].”
“Do we stop here?”
“Certainly. The railway isn’t finished.”
“What! not finished?”
“No. There’s still fifty miles from here to Allahabad, where the line begins again.”
“But the papers announced the railway.”
“So what, officer? The papers were mistaken.”
“Yet you sell tickets from Bombay to Calcutta,” retorted Sir Francis.
“No doubt[65 - No doubt – Без сомнения],” replied the conductor; “but the passengers know that they must provide means of transportation for themselves from Kholby to Allahabad.”
Sir Francis was furious. Passepartout did not dare to look at his master.
“Sir Francis,” said Mr. Fogg quietly, “we will, if you please, look about for some means of conveyance to Allahabad.”
“Mr. Fogg, what a delay!”
“No, Sir Francis; it’s nothing.”
“What! You knew that the way…”
“Not at all; but I know that some obstacle or other will sooner or later arise on my route. Nothing, therefore, is lost. I have two days to sacrifice. A steamer leaves Calcutta for Hong Kong at noon, on the 25th. This is the 22nd, and we shall reach Calcutta in time.”
Many travelers were aware of this interruption, and they began to engage wagons, carriages, palanquins, ponies, and so on. Mr. Fogg and Sir Francis Cromarty did not find anything.
“I shall walk,” said Phileas Fogg.
Passepartout said,
“Monsieur, I think I found something.”
“What?”
“An elephant! An elephant that belongs to an Indian who lives a hundred steps from here.”
“Let’s go and see the elephant,” replied Mr. Fogg.
They soon reached a small hut. An Indian came out of the hut. His elephant was half domesticated. Kiouni[66 - Kiouni – Киуни]-this was the name of the beast-could travel rapidly for a long time. Mr. Fogg resolved to hire him. But elephants are not cheap in India. When Mr. Fogg proposed to the Indian to hire Kiouni, he refused. Mr. Fogg persisted. Ten pounds an hour for the loan of the beast to Allahabad? Refused. Twenty pounds? Refused also. Forty pounds? Still refused.
Phileas Fogg then proposed to purchase the animal, and at first offered a thousand pounds for him. The Indian still refused. His small, sharp eyes were glistening with avarice. Mr. Fogg offered first twelve hundred, then fifteen hundred, eighteen hundred, two thousand pounds. At two thousand pounds the Indian yielded.
“What a price, good heavens!” cried Passepartout, “for an elephant.”
It only remained now to find a guide, which was easy. A young Parsee, with an intelligent face, offered his services, which Mr. Fogg accepted. The Parsee, a good elephant driver, covered the elephant’s back with a saddle-cloth, and attached to each of his flanks some uncomfortable howdahs. Phileas Fogg paid the Indian with some banknotes which he extracted from the famous carpet-bag.
They purchased provisions at Kholby. The Parsee perched himself on the elephant’s neck, and at nine o’clock they left the village. The animal marched through the dense forest of palms.
