登陆注册
14935500000035

第35章 CHAPTER XXXV

IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DOES NOT HAVE TO REPEAT HIS ORDERS TO PASSEPARTOUT TWICE

THE DWELLERS in Saville Row would have been surprised,the next day,if they had been told that Phileas Fogg had returned home。His doors and windows were still closed,no appearance of change was visible。

After leaving the station,Mr。Fogg gave Passepartout instructions to purchase some provisions,and quietly went to his domicile。

He bore his misfortune with his habitual tranquillity。Ruined!And by the blundering of the detective!After having steadily traversed that long journey,overcome a hundred obstacles,braved many dangers,and still found time to do some good on his way,to fail near the goal by a sudden event which he could not have foreseen,and against which he was unarmed;it was terrible!But a few pounds were left of the large sum he had carried with him。There only remained of his fortune the twenty thousand pounds deposited at Barings,and this amount he owed to his friends of the Reform Club。So great had been the expense of his tour,that,even had he won,it would not have enriched him;and it is probable that he had not sought to enrich himself,being

a man who rather laid wagers for honour's sake than for the stake proposed。But this wager totally ruined him。

Mr。Fogg's course,however,was fully decided upon;he knew what remained for him to do。

A room in the house in Saville Row was set apart for Aouda,who was overwhelmed with grief at her protector's misfortune。From the words which Mr。Fogg dropped,she saw that he was meditating some serious project。

Knowing that Englishmen governed by a fixed idea sometimes resort to the desperate expedient of suicide,Passepartout kept narrow watch upon his master,though he carefully concealed the appearance of so doing。

First of all,the worthy fellow had gone up to his room,and had extinguished the gas burner,which had been burning for eighty days。He had found in the letter-box a bill from the gas company,and he thought it more than time to put a stop to this expense,which he had been doomed to bear。

The night passed。Mr。Fogg went to bed,but did he sleep?Aouda did not once close her eyes。Passepartout watched all night,like a faithful dog,at his master's door。

Mr。Fogg called him in the morning,and told him to get Aouda's breakfast,and a cup of tea and a chop for himself。He desired Aouda to excuse him from breakfast and dinner,as his time would be absorbed all day in putting his affairs to rights。In the evening he would ask permission to have a few moment's conversation with the young lady。

Passepartout,having received his orders,had nothing to do but obey them。He looked at his imperturbable master,and could scarcely bring his mind to leave him。His heart was full,and his conscience tortured by remorse;for he accused himself more bitterly than ever of being the cause of the irretrievable disaster。Yes!If he had warned Mr。Fogg,and had betrayed Fix's projects to him,his master would certainly not have given the detective passage to Liverpool,and then—

Passepartout could hold in no longer。

‘My master!Mr。Fogg!'he cried,‘why do you not curse me?It was my fault that—'

‘I blame no one,'returned Phileas Fogg,with perfect calmness。‘Go!'

Passepartout left the room,and went to find Aouda,to whom he delivered his master's message。

‘Madam,'he added,‘I can do nothing myself—nothing!I have no infuence over my master;but you,perhaps—'

‘What infuence could I have?'replied Aouda。‘Mr。Fogg is influenced by no one。Has he ever understood that my gratitude to him is overfowing?Has he ever read my heart?My friend,he must not be left alone an instant!You say he is going to speak with me this evening?'

‘Yes,madam;probably to arrange for your protection and comfort in England。'

‘We shall see,'replied Aouda,becoming suddenly pensive。Throughout this day(Sunday)the house in Saville Row was as if uninhabited,and Phileas Fogg,for the first time since he had lived in that house,did not set out for his club when Westminster clock struck half past eleven。

Why should he present himself at the Reform?His friends no longer expected him there。As Phileas Fogg had not appeared in the saloon on the evening before(Saturday,the 21st of December,at a quarter before nine),he had lost his wager。It was not even necessary that he should go to his bankers for the twenty thousand pounds;for his antagonists already had his check in their hands,and they had only to fill it out and send it to the Barings to have the amount transferred to their credit。

Mr。Fogg,therefore,had no reason for going out,and so he remained at home。He shut himself up in his room,and busied himself putting his affairs in order。Passepartout continually ascended and descended the stairs。The hours were long for him。He listened at his master's door,and looked through the keyhole,as if he had a perfect right so to do,and as if he feared that something terrible might happen at any moment。Sometimes he thought of Fix,but no longer in anger。Fix,like all the world,had been mistaken in Phileas Fogg,and had only done his duty in tracking and arresting him;while he,Passepartout—This thought haunted him,and he never ceased cursing his miserable folly。

Finding himself too wretched to remain alone,he knocked at Aouda's door,went into her room,seated himself,without speaking,in a corner,and looked ruefully at the young woman。Aouda was still pensive。

About half-past seven in the evening Mr。Fogg sent to know if Aouda would receive him,and in a few moments he found himself alone with her。

Phileas Fogg took a chair,and sat down near the freplace,opposite Aouda。No emotion was visible on his face。Fogg returned was exactly the Fogg who had gone away;there was the same calm,the same impassibility。

He sat several minutes without speaking;then,bending his eyes on Aouda,‘Madam,'said he,‘will you pardon me for bringing you to England?'

‘I,Mr。Fogg!'replied Aouda,checking the pulsations of her heart。

‘Please let me fnish,'returned Mr。Fogg。‘When I decided to bring you far away from the country which was so unsafe for you,I was rich,and counted on putting a portion of my fortune at my disposal;then your existence would have been free and happy。But now I am ruined。'

‘I know it,Mr。Fogg,'replied Aouda;‘and I ask you in my turn,will you forgive me for having followed you,and—who knows?—for having,perhaps,delayed you,and thus contributed to your ruin?'

‘Madam,you could not remain in India,and your safety could only be assured by bringing you to such a distance that your persecutors could not take you。'

‘So,Mr。Fogg,'resumed Aouda,‘not content with rescuing me from a terrible death,you thought yourself bound to secure my comfort in a foreign land?'

‘Yes,madam;but circumstances have been against me。Still,I beg to place the little I have left at your service。'

‘But what will become of you,Mr。Fogg?'

‘As for me,madam,'replied the gentleman,coldly,‘I have need of nothing。'

‘But how do you look upon the fate,sir,which awaits you?'

‘As I am in the habit of doing。'

‘At least,'said Aouda,‘want should not overtake a man like you。Your friends—'

‘I have no friends,madam。'

‘Your relatives—'

‘I have no longer any relatives。'

‘I pity you,then,Mr。Fogg,for solitude is a sad thing,with no heart to which to confde your griefs。They say,though,that misery itself,shared by two sympathetic souls,may be borne with patience。'

‘They say so,madam。'

‘Mr。Fogg,'said Aouda,rising,and seizing his hand,‘do you wish at once a kinswoman and friend?Will you have me for your wife?'

Mr。Fogg,at this,rose in his turn。There was an unwonted light in his eyes,and a slight trembling of his lips。Aouda looked into his face。The sincerity,rectitude,firmness,and sweetness of this soft glance of a noble woman,who could dare all to save him to whom she owed all,at first astonished,then penetrated him。He shut his eyes for an instant,as if to avoid her look。When he opened them again,‘I love you!'he said,simply。‘Yes,by all that is holiest,I love you,and I am entirely yours!'

‘Ah!'cried Aouda,pressing his hand to her heart。

Passepartout was summoned and appeared immediately。

Mr。Fogg still held Aouda's hand in his own;Passepartout understood,and his big,round face became as radiant as the tropical sun at its zenith。

Mr。Fogg asked him if it was not too late to notify the Reverend Samuel Wilson,of Marylebone parish,that evening。

Passepartout smiled his most genial smile,and said,‘Never too late。'

It was fve minutes past eight。

‘Will it be for tomorrow,Monday?'

‘For tomorrow,Monday,'said Mr。Fogg,turning to Aouda。

‘Yes;for tomorrow,Monday,'she replied。Passepartout hurried off as fast as his legs could carry him。

同类推荐
  • 英国学生文学读本4册

    英国学生文学读本4册

    《西方家庭学校原版教材与经典读本?英国学生文学读本(第4册)》以英文原版形式出版,图文并茂。编写体例统一严谨,包括生词、课文、语音、拼读练习、词汇解释等,同时还附加了单词拓展练习,《西方家庭学校原版教材与经典读本?英国学生文学读本(第4册)》是一套完整的英语学习教材。这些选文,体现了英国丰富的历史文化知识和西方国家的道德价值观念。
  • 美国学生世界历史

    美国学生世界历史

    让孩子知道一些他们来到这世界之前就已经发生的事情;带孩子走出以自我为中心、封闭在家的生活,这种生活显得过于重要,因为太贴近,就成为孩子们眼中的一切,使他们看不到外面的世界;开阔孩子的眼界,拓宽他们的视野,将过去时代的历史画面展现在他们面前;让他们熟悉历史上一些重大事件和伟人的名字,并把这些事和人在时间和空间上确定下来,作为将来系统学习的基础;向孩子提供一份历史编年档案,并附有要览,这样他们今后学习历史就可以参照这份档案。
  • 不可不知的欧洲100所名校(英汉双语版)

    不可不知的欧洲100所名校(英汉双语版)

    本书从历史等其他角度发掘欧洲每一所名校的创立,同时传播了这些一流大学的教育精神。通过图片和文字结合来介绍名校的各自特色,让广大读者了解欧洲名校的情况,让国内的大学可以吸收经验,同时为学生出国留学铺一条捷径。
  • 青春阅读——聆听人生真谛(双语)

    青春阅读——聆听人生真谛(双语)

    人生的真谛其实很简单:那就是为实现自己的宏伟理想美好梦想而好好活着!只有活着,你才会有希望!否则,一切的一切皆为泡影!当你遭遇失败和挫折的时候,你绝不要仅仅停留在悲观、伤心、失望的状态上。因为,这样下去,只会让自己的人生越来越迷茫!
  • 到灯塔去·达洛维夫人

    到灯塔去·达洛维夫人

    《到灯塔去》围绕斯凯岛的灯塔这一中心线索,展开拉姆齐一家人一战前后十年间的经历,并通过女艺术家丽莉的内心视角揭示其在男权世界中的艰难与困惑。伍尔夫的这部作品很少对话或外部动作,而主要由人物的观察、回忆、心理分析及反思构成,儿童视角与成年人世界穿插交错,堪称一部里程碑式的作品,与乔伊斯和布鲁斯特一同开创了以意识流手法为特色的现代文学的先河。《达洛维太太》是伍尔夫的又一力作,描写克莱丽莎一天中的经历。通过内心视角,故事在时间上与不同人物的意识中回旋、跳跃,从而勾勒出克莱丽莎的个人命运及两次大战期间社会的变迁。
热门推荐
  • 玩偶骑士

    玩偶骑士

    她,本是一个天真烂漫的女生,突然传来的噩耗却使她父母双亡,一无所有,只能被冷情的叔叔送出去生活,本以为平凡无望的一生便会如此度过,却被突然闯入的少年打破,变得多姿多彩…
  • 繁华似锦不及你的美丽

    繁华似锦不及你的美丽

    人的一生,都有一些说不出的秘密,挽不回的遗憾,触不到的梦想,忘不了的爱。苏瑾年:我以为我会在这漫漫的长途里忘记你,可是,到头来,我才发现,不是我忘不掉你,而是,只要我活在每个孤单的夜晚,独自看着散落在人世间的繁华,我都会想起你。林宇泽:别来无恙,我的姑娘。
  • 将

    腾讯三国游戏的经历,经过个人改编而成故事。讲述一个名叫白水仙儿的孤女和与之相逢之人的命运,从复生到阴阳合一的终结,在那烽火战乱年代的无奈和残酷。烟花易冷,人事易分。爱恨离殇,千年的纠葛纷扰与恩怨情仇如乱麻欲理还乱。在乱世里,没有人能够置身世外,难逃一劫,也许这世上,一切都在冥冥之中早已被安排……
  • 秦时汉楚

    秦时汉楚

    本书全部都是虚拟构造与历史不符。人世间的争斗,人世间的剑器,人世间的霸权,论一人何为善,剑戾魔则仙剑善,不知如何才能生活在安乐之中,人生来到底是为了奴隶还是称王称霸,剑生来就是魔物,剑分善恶却不以心来论一人心中卓念,一人的正恶到底是考得什么,世间本就是不公平的,如果等到公平那就不是人间而是恶魔与天使的境界。问世间到底怎样才能成为好人怎样才能成为坏人
  • 英雄联盟之英雄去超越

    英雄联盟之英雄去超越

    想和英雄联盟的妹子0距离接触吗?想和英雄联盟的英雄成为好“基友”吗?想和英雄一起赴战场吗?想和英雄们一起闯荡吗?想的话就来看《英雄联盟之英雄去超越》
  • tfboys之永远爱你

    tfboys之永远爱你

    活泼可爱的她们遇上了TFBOYS,会擦出怎么样的爱情火花呢,想了解就关注吧!(这是糖糖第一次写小说,家人们多多谅解哦!)
  • 男人魅力

    男人魅力

    美丽和梦想不只属于女人。男人的美丽和梦想,时常比女人的美丽与梦想更丰富、更精彩。男人的美丽多半在他的精神,在他的骨质,在他内心的力量和畅想之中。
  • 马克思主义箴言:资本来到人间·工人运动

    马克思主义箴言:资本来到人间·工人运动

    《马克思主义箴言·资本来到人间:工人运动》共分为资本来到人间——工人运动、矿业无产阶级、农业无产阶级、资产阶级对无产阶级的态度四部分内容。
  • 单纯少女的青春

    单纯少女的青春

    呆萌可爱的青春美少女-夏晗若,以单纯的心态看世界,遇上冷漠男-北泽天。北泽天因父母离异,家母患癌逝世愧疚不已,黑暗笼罩着他的内心。当她遇见他,化解+暗恋,正式开启。
  • 绝地武神

    绝地武神

    世界顶级特种兵秦飞,竟然意外魂穿到了一个出身尊贵,天资极差的废物身上。一朝觉醒,冲破枷锁,练就旷世奇功——刑天决,走上惊天逆袭路。既然前一世,他是任人践踏,没有尊严的废物。那么这一世,他就要成为让所有人敬仰的武神,成为那九重天上不可战胜的神话!【新书发布,求推荐票,求收藏!】