Part 17 (1/2)
”Bah!” retorted Passepartout, with an air of raillery
”I am a police detective, sent out here by the London office”
”You, a detective?”
”I will prove it Here is my commission”
Passepartout was speechless with astonishenuineness of which could not be doubted
”Mr Fogg's wager,” resuentle your innocent complicity”
”But why?”
”Listen On the 28th of last September a robbery of fifty-five thousand pounds was coland by a person whose description was fortunately secured Here is his 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 ofabout him You went into his service the day he came away; and he ca a large ah 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 ainst him! Passepartout essayed to reject the suspicions which forced themselves upon his uilty
”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 --”
”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--iffor--which I deny--I have been, aoodness; and I will never betray hie 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”