第15章

The general route of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway is as follows：-Leaving Bombay，it passes through Salcette，crossing to the continent opposite Tannah，goes over the chain of the Western Ghauts，runs thence north-east as far as Burhampoor，skirts the nearly independent territory of Bundelcund，ascends to Allahabad，turns thence eastwardly，meeting the Ganges at Benares，then departs from the river a little，and，descending south-eastward by Burdivan and the French town of Chandernagor，has its terminus at Calcutta.

The passengers of theMongolia'went ashore at half-past four p.m.；at exactly eight the train would start for Calcutta.

Mr Fogg，after bidding good-bye to his whist partners，left the steamer，gave his servant several errands to do，urged it upon him to be at the station promptly at eight，and，with his regular step，which beat to the second，like an astronomical clock，directed his Steps to the passport office.As for the wonders of Bombay-its famous city hall，its splendid library，its forts and docks，its bazaars，mosques，synagogues，its Armenian churches，and the noble pagoda on Malabar Hill with its two polygonal towers-he cared not a straw to see them.He would not deign to examine even the masterpieces of Elephanta，or the mysterious hypogea，concealed southeast from the docks，or those fine remains of Buddhist architecture，the Kanherian grottoes of the island of Salcette.

Having transacted his business at the passport office，Phileas Fogg repaired quietly to the railway station，where he ordered dinner.Among the dishes served up to him，the landlord especially recommended a certain giblet ofnative rabbit'，on which he prided himself.

Mr Fogg accordingly tasted the dish，but，despite its spiced sauce，found it far from palatable.He rang for the landlord，and on his appearance，said，fixing his clear eyes upon him，Is this rabbit，sir？

Yes，my lord，the rogue boldly replied，rabbit from the jungles.

And this rabbit did not mew when he was killed？

Mew，my lord！What，a rabbit mew！I swear to you——

Be so good，landlord，as not to swear，but remember this：cats were formerly considered，in India，as sacred animals.That was a good time.

For the cats，my lord？

Perhaps for the travellers as well！

After which Mr Fogg quietly continued his dinner.Fix had gone on shore shortly after Mr Fogg，and his first destination was the headquarters of the Bombay police.He made himself known as a London detective，told his business at Bombay，and the position of affairs relative to the supposed robber，and nervously asked if a warrant had arrived from London.It had not reached the office；indeed，there had not yet been time for it to arrive.Fix was sorely disappointed，and tried to obtain an order of arrest from the director of the Bombay police.This the director refused，as the matter concerned the London office，which alone could legally deliver the warrant.Fix did not insist，and was fain to resign himself to await the arrival of the important document；but he was determined not to lose sight of the mysterious rogue as long as he stayed in Bombay.He did not doubt for a moment，anymore than Passepartout，that Phileas Fogg would remain there，at least until it was time for the warrant to arrive.