登陆注册
22904700000016

第16章

Passepartout,however,had no sooner heard his master's orders on leaving theMongolia',than he saw at once that they were to leave Bombay as they had done Suez and Paris,and that the journey would be extended at least as far as Calcutta,and perhaps beyond that place.He began to ask himself if this bet that Mr Fogg talked about was not really in good earnest,and whether his fate was not in truth forcing him,despite his love of repose,around the world in eighty days!

Having purchased the usual quota of shirts and shoes,he took a leisurely promenade about the streets,where crowds of people of many nationalities-Europeans,Persians with pointed caps,Banyas with round turbans,Sindis with square bonnets,Parsees with black mitres and long-robed Armenians-were collected.It happened to be the day of a Parsee festival.These descendants of the sect of Zoroaster-the most thrifty,civilized,intelligent and austere of the East Indians,among whom are counted the richest native merchants of Bombay-were celebrating a sort of religious carnival,with processions and shows,in the midst of which Indian dancing-girls,clothed in rose-coloured gauze,looped up with gold and silver,danced airily,but with perfect modesty,to the sound of viols and the clanging of tambourines.It is needless to say that Passepartout watched these curious ceremonies with staring eyes and gaping mouth,and that his countenance was that of the greenest booby imaginable.

Unhappily for his master,as well as himself,his curiosity drew him unconsciously farther off than he intended to go.At last,having seen the Parsee carnival wind away in the distance,he was turning his steps towards the station,when he happened to espy the splendid pagoda on Malabar Hill,and was seized with an irresistible desire to see its interior.He was quite ignorant that it is forbidden to Christians to enter certain Indian temples,and that even the faithful must not go in without first leaving their shoes outside the door.It may be said here that the wise policy of the British Government severely punishes a disregard of the practices of the native religions.

Passepartout,however,thinking no harm,went in like a ****** tourist,and was soon lost in admiration of the splendid Brahmin ornamentation which everywhere met his eyes,when of a sudden he found himself sprawling on the sacred flagging.He looked up to behold three enraged priests,who forthwith fell upon him,tore off his shoes,and began to beat him with loud,savage exclamations.The agile Frenchman was soon upon his feet again,and lost no time in knocking down two of his long-gowned adversaries with his fists and a vigorous application of his toes;then,rushing out of the pagoda as fast as his legs could carry him,he soon escaped the third priest by mingling with the crowd in the streets.

At five minutes before eight,Passepartout,hatless,shoeless,and having in the squabble lost his package of shirts and shoes,rushed breathlessly into the station.

Fix,who had followed Mr Fogg to the station,and saw that he was really going to leave Bombay,was there,upon the platform.He had resolved to follow the supposed robber to Calcutta,and farther,if necessary.Passepartout did not observe the detective,who stood in an obscure comer;but Fix heard him relate his adventures in a few words to Mr Fogg.

I hope that this will not happen again,said Phileas Fogg,coldly,as he got into the train.Poor Passepartout,quite crestfallen,followed his master without a word.Fix was on the point of entering another carriage,when an idea struck him which induced him to alter his plan.

No,I'll stay,muttered he.An offence has been committed on Indian soil.I've got my man.

Just then the locomotive gave a sharp screech,and the train passed out into the darkness of the night.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 快穿之无敌升级系统

    快穿之无敌升级系统

    冉家有女初长成,就被坑爹的系统选中成为命定宿主,从此为了完成任务,走上了穿梭到各个位面去攻略反派大BOSS充满荆棘坎坷的道路。【娱乐圈√末世√恐龙世界√校园√仙侠√同人√吸血鬼√美人鱼√玄幻√古代√每一个世界都有一个男主,更多世界等待与你一起解锁。】
  • 最牛张角之横扫三国

    最牛张角之横扫三国

    苍天已死,黄天当立,岁在甲子,天下大吉。众星亿亿,不若一日之明也,柱天群行之言,不若国一贤良也!东汉末年,民不聊生,为救天下黎民,张角发动黄巾起义,不久病死,黄巾军也随之逐渐瓦解,倘若张角不死,还会不会有后来的三国鼎立?现代特种兵魂穿张角,再续黄巾雄风。这是我的三国,这是我的天下!
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!
  • 仗剑直行九万里

    仗剑直行九万里

    末法时代,末日降临,当人心不古、只为利益而存,世人将如何在这人间挣扎?且看救世五人组,如何还人间一个太平!
  • 暮染果果

    暮染果果

    这是果果的短篇合集,欢迎大家旁观,收藏。
  • 新月绒

    新月绒

    紫衣如妖,瞳如镜。纤纤素手,一指乾坤。乱世飘摇,浮生若莲。离焰丞相嫡女一朝惊变,为男子,引得天下女子失了心,为女子,让天下男子失了魂。当回归丞相府,又会掀起怎样的风波。当身世揭晓,她会选择与谁一起,袖手天下,白首不相离。
  • 神术魔血

    神术魔血

    天启纪元来临,人类生存面临巨大考验。灾难,饥饿,战争,变异,死亡。一切来的毫无预兆。神赐之术,魔血之主。双重人格的少年,究竟谁才是真正的自我?
  • 本王有只灵狐

    本王有只灵狐

    “你真好看!”洛诗柔蹲在端木文赋面前,痴迷的说。端木文赋愣了片刻,“那以后你跟着我好不好?”“会有好吃的吗?”下人们都傻了眼,他们看到了什么,自家王爷是亲自把洛姑娘抱出门,还抱上马车的,王爷您还是我们的王爷吗?我们承受住了吃饭喂,睡觉哄,还是承受不住这走路都抱着啊,这还是他们那杀伐果断的冷面王爷吗?还是那个不近女色的王爷吗?以后谁要是再说他家王爷不近女色得好好让他看看这一幕。
  • 重生之幸福来得如此简单

    重生之幸福来得如此简单

    她以为她会一直过着这样的生活,在老妈的催促下和不认识的人相亲结婚,然而上天和她开了一个玩笑,让她有了重新掌握幸福的机会。。。这次能抓住么
  • 天行

    天行

    号称“北辰骑神”的天才玩家以自创的“牧马冲锋流”战术击败了国服第一弓手北冥雪,被誉为天纵战榜第一骑士的他,却受到小人排挤,最终离开了效力已久的银狐俱乐部。是沉沦,还是再次崛起?恰逢其时,月恒集团第四款游戏“天行”正式上线,虚拟世界再起风云!