Читать книгу Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in Eighty Days - Жюль Верн, Жуль Верн - Страница 8

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.”