around the world in 80 days(环游世界80天)-第18部分

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‘But　why？'　
‘Listen。　On　the　28th　of　last　September　a　robbery　of　fifty…five　thousand　pounds　was　committed　at　the　Bank　of　England　by　a　person　whose　description　was　fortunately　secured。　Here　is　this　description；　it　answers　exactly　to　that　of　Mr　Phileas　Fogg。'　
‘What　nonsense！'　cried　Passepartout；　striking　the　table　with　his　fist。　‘My　master　is　the　most　honourable　of　men！'　
‘How　can　you　tell？　You　know　scarcely　anything　about　him。　You　went　into　his　service　the　day　he　came　away；　and　he　came　away　on　a　foolish　pretext；　without　trunks；　and　carrying　a　large　amount　in　bank…notes。　And　yet　you　are　bold　enough　to　assert　that　he　is　an　honest　man！'　
‘Yes；　yes；'　repeated　the　poor　fellow；　mechanically。　‘Would　you　like　to　be　arrested　as　his　accomplice？'　Passepartout；　overcome　by　what　he　had　heard；　held　his　head　between　his　hands；　and　did　not　dare　to　look　at　the　detective。　Phileas　Fogg；　the　saviour　of　Aouda；　that　brave　and　generous　man；　a　robber！　And　yet　how　many　presumptions　there　were　against　him！　Passepartout　essayed　to　reject　the　suspicions　which　forced　themselves　upon　his　mind；　he　did　not　wish　to　believe　that　his　master　was　guilty。　
‘Well；　what　do　you　want　of　me？'　said　he；　at　last；　with　an　effort。　
‘See　here；'　replied　Fix；　‘I　have　tracked　Mr　Fogg　to　this　place；　but　as　yet　I　have　failed　to　receive　the　warrant　of　arrest　for　which　I　sent　to　London。　You　must　help　me　to　keep　him　here　in　Hong　Kong'　
‘I！　But　I'　
‘I　will　share　with　you　the　two　thousand　pounds　reward　offered　by　the　Bank　of　England。'　
‘Never！'　replied　Passepartout；　who　tried　to　rise；　but　fell　back；　exhausted　in　mind　and　body。　
‘Mr　Fix；'　he　stammered；　‘even　should　what　you　say　be　true　…　if　my　master　is　really　the　robber　you　are　seeking　for　…　which　I　deny　…　I　have　been；　am；　in　his　service；　I　have　seen　his　generosity　and　goodness；　and　I　will　never　betray　him　…　not　for　all　the　gold　in　the　world。　I　come　from　a　village　where　they　don't　eat　that　kind　of　bread！'　
‘You　refuse？'　
‘I　refuse。'　
‘Consider　that　I've　said　nothing；'　said　Fix；　‘and　let　us　drink。'　
‘Yes；　let　us　drink！'　
Passepartout　felt　himself　yielding　more　and　more　to　the　effects　of　the　liquor。　Fix；　seeing　that　he　must；　at　all　hazards；　be　separated　from　his　master；　wished　to　entirely　overcome　him。　Some　pipes　full　of　opium　lay　upon　the　table。　Fix　slipped　one　into　Passepartout's　hand。　He　took　it　put　it　between　his　lips；　lit　it；　drew　several　puffs；　and　his　head；　becoming　heavy　under　the　influence　of　the　narcotic；　fell　upon　the　table。　
‘At　last！'　said　Fix；　seeing　Passepartout　unconscious。　‘Mr　Fogg　will　not　be　informed　of　the　〃Carnatic's〃　departure；　and；　if　he　is；　he　will　have　to　go　without　this　cursed　Frenchman！'　
And；　after　paying　his　bill；　Fix　left　the　tavern。