登陆注册
12109200000018

第18章

At half-past twelve the train stopped at Burhampoor,where Passepartout was able to purchase some Indian slippers,ornamented with false pearls,in which,with evident vanity,he proceeded to incase his feet.The travellers made a hasty breakfast and started off for Assurghur,after skirting for a little the banks of the small river Tapty,which empties into the Gulf of Cambray,near Surat.

Passepartout was now plunged into absorbing reverie.Up to his arrival at Bombay,he had entertained hopes that their journey would end there;but now that they were plainly whirling across India at full speed,a sudden change had come over the spirit of his dreams.His old vagabond nature returned to him;the fantastic ideas of his youth once more took possession of him.He carne to regard his master's project as intended in good earnest,believed in the reality of the bet,and therefore in the tour of the worlds and the necessity of making it without fail within the designated period.Already he began to worry about possible delays,and accidents which might happen on the way.He recognized himself as being personally interested in the wager,and trembled at the thought that he might have been the means of losing it by his unpardonable folly of the night before.Being much less cool-headed than Mr Fogg,he was much more restless,counting and recounting the days passed over,uttering maledictions when the train stopped,and accusing it of sluggishness,and mentally blaming Mr Fogg for not having bribed the engineer.The worthy fellow was ignorant that,while it was possible by such means to hasten the rate of a steamer,it could not be done on the railway.

The train entered the defiles of the Sutpour Mountains,which separate the Khandeish from Bundelcund,towards evening.The next day Sir Francis Cromarty asked Passepartout what time it was;to which,on consulting his watch,he replied that it was three in the morning.This famous timepiece,always regulated on the Greenwich meridian,which was now some seventy-seven degrees westward,was at least four hours slow.Sir Francis corrected Passepartout's time,whereupon the latter made the same remark that he had done to Fix;and upon the general insisting that the watch should be regulated in each new meridian,since he was constantly going east-ward,that is in the face of the sun,and therefore the days were shorter by four minutes for each degree gone over,Passepartout obstinately refused to alter his watch,which he kept at London time.It was an innocent delusion which could harm no one.

The train stopped,at eight o'clock,in the midst of a glade some fifteen miles beyond Rothal,where there were several bungalows and workmen's cabins.

The conductor,passing along the carriages,shouted,Passengers will get out here!

Phileas Fogg looked at Sir Francis Cromarty for an explanation;but the general could not tell what meant a halt in the midst of this forest of dates and acacias.

Passepartout,not less surprised,rushed out and speedily returned,crying:Monsieur,no more railway!

What do you mean?asked Sir Francis.

I mean to say that the train isn't going on.

The general at once stepped out,while Phileas Fogg calmly followed him,and they proceeded together to the conductor.

Where are we?asked Sir Francis.

At the hamlet of Kholby.

Do we stop here?

Certainly.The railway isn't finished.

What!not finished?

No.There's still a matter of fifty miles to be laid from here to Allahabad,where the line begins again.

But the papers announced the opening of the railway throughout.

What would you have,officer?The papers were mistaken.

Yet you sell tickets from Bombay to Calcutta,retorted Sir Francis,who was growing warm.

No doubt,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 would willingly have knocked the conductor down,and 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,this is a delay greatly to your disadvantage.

No,Sir Francis;it was foreseen.

What!You knew that the way——

Not at all;but I knew that some obstacle or other would sooner or later arise on my route.Nothing,therefore,is lost.I have two days,which I have already gained,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.

There was nothing to say to so confident a response.

同类推荐
  • 吾吾类稿

    吾吾类稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 王直方诗话

    王直方诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大悲启请

    大悲启请

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 大明度经

    大明度经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 反三国志演义

    反三国志演义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 逆天大盗倾城记:血色蔷薇

    逆天大盗倾城记:血色蔷薇

    她是现代的超能力大盗,为完成组织任务来到拥有灵力的古代,居然穿越到一个废柴身上!修炼晋升甩渣男,好不容易得到任务线索,居然和一直缠着自己的某男有关系?为了接近他,她不得不忍气吞声;为了看透他,她不得不了解详细;为了俘获他......初雪悲哀的发现,自己爱上他了!本以为一生就可以悄悄在这个时空度过,可世事无常,新婚之夜,超能力者来袭,一夜她成为俘虏,而他,却不知所踪......重新回到现代,一次偶遇揭开她身上的惊天秘密!波澜起伏的命运,她该如何在漩涡中脱身?前世,今世,来世,他终将找到她!【古言现言和校园,宠虐双重】
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 冷血姐妹

    冷血姐妹

    两位冷血校花遇上阳光少年……他们之间会发生什么呢?
  • 世界社会主义的历史和理论

    世界社会主义的历史和理论

    从理论与实践的结合上,辩证阐明了科学社会主义是世界历史性事业的本质内涵,深刻揭示了社会主义科学发展观的演进规律,系统总结了世界社会主义实践过程中的宝贵经验和深刻教训,给理论以深化、给实践以指导、给未来以启迪。
  • 惹上大神:欠你99次情债

    惹上大神:欠你99次情债

    他,是高冷男神,人人眼中的傲娇者,却独独对她一见倾心,一眼万年。那年,大学课堂上,殷霆宇跑来简爱的身旁,戳了一下简爱的肩,某女:“干嘛?”某男挥了挥手中的PH试纸,“你看它变成了红色。”某女无奈:“所以?”某男一脸傲娇的说道:“说明…我在吃醋!”那年,他们相爱,却不懂怎么珍惜。一个隐藏在误会里的告别,这一别就是五年。有一天,他们相遇,暮然回首,殷霆宇一把扼住她的手腕:“简爱,你欠了我这么多的债,想跑?没门”“放开我,我哪有欠你什么债。”某男一脸腹黑,轻轻的对着某女吹了一口气,“你还欠我一份情债啊?怎么忘了?要不要和我重温一遍?”“……”“还债的那个期限,就是…一辈子!”
  • 承泽郡王的宠妃

    承泽郡王的宠妃

    轻狂王爷薄情妃之王爷嫁给我!一次重口味的穿越,让她回到了三百年前,追捕?泼冷水?差点万箭穿心啊!吓死本姑娘了,有木有?还有更惨的吗?当然有!自己的男人三妻四妾?这让一个具有文明思想、坚信一夫一妻制的现代人如何接受?不行不行!王爷,带上你的财富,跟我回现代吧!王爷?人呢?好吧,回现代的路上,王爷走丢了?怎么可以这样笨!
  • 零散杂味铺

    零散杂味铺

    青春是碧海潮生的立夏,我们是枫叶染红的深秋,记忆中盗不走的陪伴,不迟不早,把禀冬变成了初春。
  • 重生之天眼狂女

    重生之天眼狂女

    因为一条手链,寒若重生到十五岁,这一世,她注定要华光绽放。她是赌石界的传奇,医学界的奇葩,商业界的神话,澳门赌场的赌王,香港黑道的大小姐,屠鹰门的创始人。据说她无所不能,黑白两道通吃,她够狠,够辣,够狂。这一世,她华光绽放,只为家人。(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 嘲笑神的小丑

    嘲笑神的小丑

    在别人眼里,他永远只是个小丑,他仰望着空中那些自称神的人,轻轻地在面具弯起嘴角。
  • 傲血铁骨之平民特工

    傲血铁骨之平民特工

    我很懒散!我很善良!一次意外我变了!坚毅刚强,不畏艰险!