The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-18
CHAPTER XXXIX.

y
WHICH GIVES PAssEPARToUT THE oPPoRTr-
NIFTY OF LETTING OUT SOME ATROCIoUs BUT
PERHAPS UNPUBLISHED WORDS.
Phiieas Fogg was in prison. He had
been shut up in the Custom House in
Liverpool, and was to pass the night
there, awaiting his transfer to London.
AT the moment of his arrest Passe-
partout wished to rush upon the detect
i've. Some policemen held him back.
Mrs. Aouda, frightened by the brutal
ity OF the act, and knowing nothing
about il, could not understand it. Pas
separtout explained the situation to her.
Mr.. Fogg, this honest and courageous
gentleman, to whom she owed her life,
was arrested as a robber. The young
woman protested against such an ale
cation, her heart rose with Indignation,
and tears flowed from her eyes when
she saw that she could not do anything,
or attempt anything, to save her deliy-
erer.
As for Fix, he had arrested the gen.
tleman because his duty commanded
him to, whether he was guilty or not.
The courts would decide the question.
But then a thought came to Passepar-
tout-the terrible thought that he was
certainly the cause of all this misfort-
une! Indeed, why had he concealed
this adventure from Mr.. Fogg? When
Fix had revealed both his capacity as a
detective and the mission with which
he was charged, why had he decided
not to warn his master? The latter,
informed, would without doubt have
given Fix proofs of his innocence; he
would have demonstrated to him his
error; at any rate he would not have
conveyed at his expense and on his
tracks this unfortunate detective, whose
first care was to arrest him the moment
he set foot on the soil of the United
Kingdom. Thinking of his faults and
his imprudence, the poor fellow was
overwhelmed with remorse. He wept,
so that it was painful 10 look at him.
He felt like blowing his brains out.
Mrs. Aouda and he remained, not
withstanding the cold, under the porch
of the Custom-House. Neither of them
wished to leave the place. They want
ed to see Mr.. Fogg once more.
AS for that gentleman. he was really
ruined, and at the very moment that he
was about to reach his end. This arrest
would ruin him irrecoverably. Having
arrived at Liverpool at twenty minutes
before twelve, noon, on the 21st of De-
cember. he had until quarter of nine in
the evening to appear at the Reform
Club-that is, nine hours and five min
utes, and he only needed six TO reach
London. At this moment, any one en-
tering the Custom House would have
found Mr.. Fogg seated motionless, on a
wooden bench, without anger, imper-
turbable. He could not have been said
to be resigned. but this blow had not
been able to move him. in appearance
at least. Was he fostering within him
self one of those secret spells of anger,
terrible because they are pent up, and
which break out only at the last mo-
ment with irresistible foreeP We do
not know. But Phileas Fogg was there,
calm, waiting tor-whatP Did he
cherish some hone? Did he still believe
in success, wnsn Tic door of his prison
was closed upon him?
However that may be. Mr.. Fogg care
fully put his watch on the table, and
watched the hands move. Not a word
escaped from his lips, but his look had
singular fixedness.
In any event the situation was terri
BILE, and for any one that could read his
thoughts, they ran thus:
An honest man. Pnileas Fogg was
| ruined.
A dishonest man, he was caught.
Did he think of escapingF Did hi
think of looking to see whether there
was practicable outlet from his prison
Did he think of flyingP We would be
tempted to believe so; for. once he tool
| the tour OF the room. But the dool
was securely locked and the windows
had iron bars. He Sat down again. anc
took from his pocket book the diary o
his journey On the line which bore
these words:
December 2lst. Saturday, Liver
pool he added: