Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in Eighty Days

”

“A man rather feels the presence of these fellows, consul, than recognises them. You must have a scent for them – hearing, seeing, and smelling. If my thief is on board, he’ll not slip through my fingers.”

“I hope so, Mr. Fix, for it was a heavy robbery.”

“A magnificent robbery, consul; fifty-five thousand pounds!”

“Mr. Fix,” said the consul, “I hope you’ll succeed; but what about your description?”

“Consul,” remarked the detective, dogmatically, “great robbers always resemble honest folks.

Soon Mongolia appeared. It brought many passengers, some of whom remained on deck. Fix carefully examined each face. Presently one of the passengers came up to him and politely asked about the English consulate. Fix instinctively took the passport, and with a rapid glance read the description of its bearer. An involuntary motion of surprise nearly escaped him, for the description in the passport was identical with that of the bank robber from Scotland Yard.

“Is this your passport?” asked he.

“No, it’s my master’s.”

“And your master is…”

“He stayed on board.”

“But he must go to the consul’s in person.”

“Oh, is that necessary?”

“Quite indispensable.”

“And where is the consulate?”

“There, on the corner of the square,” said Fix.

“I’ll go and fetch my master.”

The passenger bowed to Fix, and returned to the steamer.

Chapter VII

The detective passed down the quay, and rapidly came to the consul’s office.

“Consul,” said he, without preamble[48 - without preamble – без предисловий], “I think that my man is a passenger on the Mongolia.”

“Well, Mr. Fix,” replied the consul, “I want to see the rascal’s face; but perhaps he won’t come here. A robber doesn’t like to leave traces.”

“If he is shrewd, consul, he will come.”

“To have his passport visaed[49 - to have his passport visaed – визировать свой паспорт]?”

“Yes.

“Why not? If the passport is genuine[50 - genuine – подлинный] I have no right to refuse.”

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

“Ah, that’s your business. But I cannot…”

The consul did not finish his sentence.