American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-08-13
TOUR OF THE WORLD IN
EIGHTY DAYS.

CHAPTER III.-CoSTISuEp.

rious-that this admirable establish
ment, the Bank of England, seems tc
care very much for the dignity of the
public. There are neither guards nor
gratings, gold, silver and bank-notes
being freely exposed, and, so to speak,
at the mercy of the first conner. They
would not suspect the honor of any one
passing by. One of the best observers
of English customs relates the follow
ing: He had the curiosity to examine
closely, in one of the rooms of the bank,
where he was one day, an ingot of gold
weighing seven to eight pounds, which
was lying exposed on the cashier S
table; he picked up this ingot, exam
ined it, passed it to his neighbor, and
heto another, so that the ingot, passing
from hand to hand, went as far rs the
end of dark entry. and did not return
to its riace for half an hour, and the
cashier had not once raised his head.
= But on the twenty-ninth of Septem-
Der matters did not turn out quite in
this way. The package of bank-notes
did not return, and when the magnif-
cent clock, hung above the "drawing
Office" announced at five o'clock the
closing of the office, the Bank of En-
gland had only to pass tifty-five thou
sand pounds to the account of profit and
loss.
The robbery being duly known,
agents, detectives, selected from the
most skillful, were sent to the principal
ports, Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Suez,
Brindisi, New York, ETC., with the
promise, in case of success. of a reward
of two thousand pounds and five per
cent of the amount recovered. Whilst
waiting for the information which the
investigation, commenced Immediately,
ought to furnish, the detectives were
charged with watching carefully all ar
irving and departing travellers.
As the Morning Ctronicle said. there
was good reason for supposing that the
robber was not member of anv of the
robber bands of England. During this
day, the twenty-ninth of September, a
well-dressed gentleman, of good man.
ners, of a distinguished air, had been
noticed going in and out of the paying
room, the scene of the robbery. The
investigation allowed a pretty accurate
description of the gentleman to be
made out, which was at once sent to all
the detectives of the United Kingdom
and of the continent. Some hopeful
minds, and Gauthier Ralph was one of
the number, believed that they had
good reason to expect that the robber
would not escape.
AS may be supposed, this affair was
the talk of all London and throughout
England.
1t was discussed, and sides were taken
vehemently for or against the probable
tiles of success of the city police 1t
will not be surprising. then, TO hear the
members of the Reform Club treating
the same subject, all the more that one
of the Under Governors OF the bank was
among them. s-...f
Honorable Gauthier Ralph was not
willing to doubt the result of the search.
considering that the reward offered
ought to sharpen peculiarly the zeal and
intelligence of the agents. But his col
league, Andrew Stuart, was far from
sharing this confidence. The discussion
continued then between the gentlemen,
who were seated at whist table, Stuart
having Flanagan as partner. and Fal
lentin Phileas Fogg. During the play
ing the parties did not speak, but, be-
tween tie rubbers. the interrupted con-
versation was fully revived
a. maintain said Andrew Stuart,
''that the chances are in favor of the
robber, who must be skillfnl fellowr'
"WelI." replied Ralph, "there is not
single country where he can take ref
uge."
"Pshawr'
Where do you suppose he might
goP''
81 don't know about that" replied
Andrew Stuart, "but after all the world
is big enough.
1t was formerly" said Phileas Fogg
in a low tone. Then he added, ''Jt is
your turn to cut, SIR" presenting the
cards to Thomas Flanagan.
The discussion was suspended during
the rubber. But Andrew Stuart soon
resumed it, saying:
How, formerly! Has the world
grown smaller perchance?'
Without doubt replied Gauthier
Ralph. 81 am of the opinion of MIR.
Fogg. The world has grown smaller.
N'nce we can go around it now ten times
quicker than one hundred years ago.
And, in the case with which we are now
occupied, this is what will render the
search more rapid
.'And will render more easy also the
flight of the robberr'
:. 1t is your turn to play, Mr.. Stuartr'
said Phileas Fogg.
But the incredulous Stuart was not
convinced, and when the hand was fin
ished he replied: alt must be con-
funny way of saying that the world
has grown smaller! Because the tour
of it is now made in three months"
lin eighty days only" said Phileas
Fogg:
'Yes, gentlemen" added John Sui
livan, EIGHTY days since the section
between Rothal and Allahabad. on the
Great Indian Peninsular Railway. has
been opened. Here is the calculation
made by the Morning Chronicle:
From London to suez via Mont Gents