Passports Again Prove Useless to Detectives

The detective passed down the quay, and rapidly made his way to the consul’s office, where he was at once admitted to the presence of that official.

The detective walked along the quay and hurried to the consul’s office. He was admitted to see the consul immediately.

“Consul,” said he, without preamble, “I have strong reasons for believing that my man is a passenger on the ‘Mongolia.’” And he narrated what had just passed concerning the passport.

“Consul,” he said without introduction, “I have strong reasons to believe my man is a passenger on the ‘Mongolia.’” He then described what had just happened regarding the passport.

“Well, Mr. Fix,” replied the consul, “I shall not be sorry to see the rascal’s face; but perhaps he won’t come here—that is, if he is the person you suppose him to be. A robber doesn’t quite like to leave traces of his flight behind him; and, besides, he is not obliged to have his passport countersigned.”

“Well, Mr. Fix,” replied the consul, “I wouldn’t mind seeing the rascal’s face. But perhaps he won’t come here, if he is the person you think he is. A robber doesn’t much like leaving traces of his escape. Besides, he isn’t required to have his passport countersigned.”

“If he is as shrewd as I think he is, consul, he will come.”

“If he is as clever as I think he is, consul, he will come.”

“To have his passport visaed?”

“To have his passport stamped?”

“Yes. Passports are only good for annoying honest folks, and aiding in the flight of rogues. I assure you it will be quite the thing for him to do; but I hope you will not visa the passport.”

“Yes. Passports are only good for annoying honest people and helping criminals escape. I assure you, it would be the right thing for him to do. But I hope you will not endorse the passport.”

“Why not? If the passport is genuine I have no right to refuse.”

“Why not? If the passport is real, I have no right to refuse.”

“Still, I must keep this man here until I can get a warrant to arrest him from London.”

“Still, I have to keep this man here until I can get a warrant from London to arrest him.”

“Ah, that’s your look-out. But I cannot—”

“Ah, that’s your problem. But I can’t...”

The consul did not finish his sentence, for as he spoke a knock was heard at the door, and two strangers entered, one of whom was the servant whom Fix had met on the quay. The other, who was his master, held out his passport with the request that the consul would do him the favour to visa it. The consul took the document and carefully read it, whilst Fix observed, or rather devoured, the stranger with his eyes from a corner of the room.

The consul did not finish his sentence. As he spoke, someone knocked at the door, and two strangers entered. One was the servant Fix had met at the quay. The other was his master, who held out his passport and asked the consul to visa it. The consul took the document and read it carefully. Meanwhile, Fix watched the stranger from a corner of the room, or rather devoured him with his eyes.

“You are Mr. Phileas Fogg?” said the consul, after reading the passport.

“You are Mr. Phileas Fogg?” the consul asked after reading the passport.

“I am.”

“I am.”

“And this man is your servant?”

“And this man is your servant?”

“He is: a Frenchman, named Passepartout.”

“He is a Frenchman named Passepartout.”

“You are from London?”

“You’re from London?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“And you are going—”

“And you are going...”

“To Bombay.”

“To Bombay.”

“Very good, sir. You know that a visa is useless, and that no passport is required?”

“All right, sir. You know that a visa is useless and that you don't need a passport?”

“I know it, sir,” replied Phileas Fogg; “but I wish to prove, by your visa, that I came by Suez.”

“I know, sir,” replied Phileas Fogg. “But I want your visa to prove that I came through Suez.”

“Very well, sir.”

“All right, sir.”

The consul proceeded to sign and date the passport, after which he added his official seal. Mr. Fogg paid the customary fee, coldly bowed, and went out, followed by his servant.

The consul signed and dated the passport, then added his official seal. Mr. Fogg paid the usual fee, bowed coldly, and left, followed by his servant.

“Well?” queried the detective.

“Well?” asked the detective.

“Well, he looks and acts like a perfectly honest man,” replied the consul.

“Well, he looks and acts like a completely honest man,” the consul replied.

“Possibly; but that is not the question. Do you think, consul, that this phlegmatic gentleman resembles, feature by feature, the robber whose description I have received?”

“Maybe, but that is not the question. Consul, do you think this calm gentleman’s features match those of the robber in the description I received?”

“I concede that; but then, you know, all descriptions—”

“I agree, but then, you know, all descriptions...”

“I’ll make certain of it,” interrupted Fix. “The servant seems to me less mysterious than the master; besides, he’s a Frenchman, and can’t help talking. Excuse me for a little while, consul.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Fix interrupted. “The servant seems less mysterious to me than his master. Besides, he’s French, and he can’t help talking. Excuse me for a little while, consul.”

Fix started off in search of Passepartout.

Fix set out to find Passepartout.

Meanwhile Mr. Fogg, after leaving the consulate, repaired to the quay, gave some orders to Passepartout, went off to the “Mongolia” in a boat, and descended to his cabin. He took up his note-book, which contained the following memoranda:

Meanwhile, Mr. Fogg left the consulate and went to the quay. He gave Passepartout some orders, took a boat to the “Mongolia,” and went down to his cabin. He took out his notebook, which contained the following notes:

“Left London, Wednesday, October 2nd, at 8.45 p.m.

“Left London on Wednesday, October 2, at 8:45 p.m.

“Reached Paris, Thursday, October 3rd, at 7.20 a.m.

“Arrived in Paris on Thursday, October 3, at 7:20 a.m.

“Left Paris, Thursday, at 8.40 a.m.

“Left Paris on Thursday at 8:40 a.m.

“Reached Turin by Mont Cenis, Friday, October 4th, at 6.35 a.m.

“Reached Turin via Mont Cenis on Friday, October 4, at 6:35 a.m.

“Left Turin, Friday, at 7.20 a.m.

“Left Turin on Friday at 7:20 a.m.

“Arrived at Brindisi, Saturday, October 5th, at 4 p.m.

“Arrived in Brindisi on Saturday, October 5, at 4 p.m.

“Sailed on the ‘Mongolia,’ Saturday, at 5 p.m.

“Sailed on the ‘Mongolia’ on Saturday at 5 p.m.

“Reached Suez, Wednesday, October 9th, at 11 a.m.

“Reached Suez on Wednesday, October 9, at 11 a.m.

“Total of hours spent, 158½; or, in days, six days and a half.”

“Total time spent: 158½ hours, or six and a half days.”

These dates were inscribed in an itinerary divided into columns, indicating the month, the day of the month, and the day for the stipulated and actual arrivals at each principal point Paris, Brindisi, Suez, Bombay, Calcutta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York, and London—from the 2nd of October to the 21st of December; and giving a space for setting down the gain made or the loss suffered on arrival at each locality. This methodical record thus contained an account of everything needed, and Mr. Fogg always knew whether he was behind-hand or in advance of his time. On this Friday, October 9th, he noted his arrival at Suez, and observed that he had as yet neither gained nor lost. He sat down quietly to breakfast in his cabin, never once thinking of inspecting the town, being one of those Englishmen who are wont to see foreign countries through the eyes of their domestics.

These dates were entered in an itinerary divided into columns for the month, date, and day of the week. It showed the scheduled and actual arrival times at each major stop: Paris, Brindisi, Suez, Bombay, Calcutta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Yokohama, San Francisco, New York, and London. The itinerary ran from October 2nd to December 21st. It also had space to record time gained or lost on arrival at each place. This methodical record contained everything needed, so Mr. Fogg always knew whether he was behind or ahead of schedule. On Friday, October 9th, he recorded his arrival at Suez and noted that he had neither gained nor lost time. He sat down quietly to breakfast in his cabin, without once thinking of visiting the town. He was one of those Englishmen who usually see foreign countries through the eyes of their servants.