Chapter 33 CHAPTER XXXIV. Passepartout Made a Wicked Remark That Probably Nobody Said.

Phileas Fogg was taken into custody.He is being held in a room at Liverpool Customs House.He must spend the night there, and be sent to London to-morrow. When Mr. Fogg was arrested, Passepartout went up to fight the detective.But a few policemen came and pulled him away.Aouda was taken aback by this sudden atrocity, she was bewildered and had no idea what was going on.Passepartout told her the situation.Mr. Fogg, such an upright and brave gentleman, her savior, was caught as a thief.The young lady firmly protested against this slander.She was very angry.When she felt powerless again, her tears could not stop streaming down her face.

As for Fix, he arrested Fogg because of his duty and had to do so. However, whether Fogg is guilty or not, that will be decided by the court. At this moment Passepartout suddenly remembered an incident, which must be the source of all the present misfortunes!Why on earth did I keep hiding Fix's identity from Mr. Fogg?Why didn't I tell my master at all when Fix explained to me that he was a police agent and his mission?If he had known in advance, he would have produced evidence to explain his identity and pointed out the misunderstanding of the other party; in that way, Mr. Fogg would never pay the travel expenses for this evil detective who was waiting to set foot on British territory and immediately went to arrest people. up.And Fix would not follow him dead.The poor boy regretted himself to death when he thought of these errors and omissions of his own.He cried.He was in so much pain that he wished he could butt his head to death!Despite the severe cold, he and Mrs. Aouda remained in the corridor outside the customs office, hoping to see Mr. Fogg again.

As for the gentleman, there was no doubt that he was completely broken.He collapsed just when he was about to succeed.This time he really failed him completely and irreparably. Arrived at Liverpool at 11:40 on December 21st, and left at 8:45 when he was due to return to the Reform Club with nine hours and forty-five minutes to go, and only six hours to London by train. Hours. Anyone who would enter the room of the customs office at this time would find Mr. Fogg sitting on a bench, quietly and in no hurry.Although it cannot be said that he was "resigned to fate", at least on the outside, this unexpected blow did not make him panic.Does he still have the certainty of victory now?No one knows this.But Fogg was indeed waiting there peacefully... What was he waiting for?Has he not given up yet?When he entered this detention room and was locked inside, did he still think that his travel plan could be successfully completed?

In any case, Mr. Fogg still put his watch neatly on a table and watched the hands move.He didn't say a word, his eyes were so focused that he didn't move. In short, the current situation is dire.Without seeing Fogg's deepest intentions, the circumstances lead you to conclude that: Mr. Fogg, if he is really a gentleman, is now ruined. If he really was a thief, he would have been caught by now. Is he planning to escape?Was he trying to find a way out of the house?Does he want to escape?One might suspect him so, for he had been wandering about the house for a while.But the doors were locked tightly, and the windows were barred.Then he sat down again.He took out his itinerary from his wallet, and the last line on it read: "Arrival in Liverpool on Saturday, December 21." Under "Saturday," he added the following words: "Eleven o'clock in the morning Forty days, eighty days."

The big clock in the customs house struck one.Mr Fogg checked his watch, which was two minutes ahead. It's two o'clock!If he could catch an express train now, he could still be in London by eight forty-five in the evening, to the Reform Club!He frowned slightly... At 2:33, there was only a commotion outside, followed by the sound of the door opening.Phileas Fogg's eyes flickered with excitement when he heard Passepartout's voice, and then that of Fix. The door opened, and he saw Lady Aouda, Passepartout, and Fix running towards him.Fix was out of breath, his hair was a mess of twine... he couldn't even speak!

"Sir," he stammered, "sir...please—please forgive me...for there is a thief who is too much like you...the fellow was arrested three days ago...you...you now It's all right!..." Phileas Fogg is free!He approached the detective, staring fixedly at the detective's face, he used a quick movement, which he had never done before, maybe the first time in his life, it was too late to say, so fast, he first Throwing back his arms, he struck the hapless spy twice hard, with perfect precision. "Well done!" exclaimed Passepartout, and with a biting quip, as he was a Frenchman, he said: "Here, see? That's really that famous English boxing show!" "

Fix was knocked over, he didn't say a word, it was his own fault.Mr. Fogg, Mrs. Aouda, and Passepartout immediately left the customs office, jumped into a carriage, and in a few minutes arrived at Liverpool station. Phileas Fogg inquired if there was an express train for London at once... It was two forty past minutes... the express train had left thirty-five minutes before. Phileas Fogg wanted to hire a special car at this time. Originally, there were several high-speed locomotives at the station, but according to railway regulations, special trains could not be operated before three o'clock.

At three o'clock, Phileas, Fogg said a few words to the driver and promised him a bonus. Mr. Fogg took the train with Mrs. Aouda and his faithful servant to London. .The train must run through this section of the railway from Liverpool to London within five and a half hours. If there are good trains along the way and it can be driven non-stop, it is still possible to reach London, but there are some delays on the way. When this All the great clocks in the City of London were saying ten minutes to nine when Gentleman reached the terminus. Phileas Fogg completed his trip around the globe, but was five minutes late! ...

He lost.