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

The criminal will be a clever fellow if he slips through their fingers.”

“Do you have the robber’s description?” asked Stuart.

“First, he is no robber at all,” returned Ralph, positively.

“What! a fellow who makes off[26 - to make off – стащить] fifty-five thousand pounds, no robber?”

“No.”

“Perhaps he’s a manufacturer, then.”

“The Daily Telegraph[27 - The Daily Telegraph – «Дэйли Телеграф» (название газеты)] says that he is a gentleman.

”

Phileas Fogg bowed to his friends, and entered into the conversation. The affair occurred three days before at the Bank of England. A package of banknotes, to the value of fifty-five thousand pounds, disappeared from the principal cashier’s[28 - principal cashier’s – главный кассир] table, who was registering the receipt of three shillings and sixpence. Of course, he can’t notice everything. And the Bank of England has no guards to protect its treasures.

When the robbery was discovered, many detectives ran to Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Suez, Brindisi, New York[29 - Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Suez, Brindisi, New York – Ливерпуль, Глазго, Гавр, Суэц, Бриндизи, Нью-Йорк], and other ports. The reward was two thousand pounds, and five per cent on the sum! Detectives were watching those who arrived at or left London.

As the Daily Telegraph said, the thief did not belong to a professional band.

On the day of the robbery a well-dressed gentleman of polished manners[30 - polished manner – прекрасные манеры] was in the paying room. His description was sent to the detectives. Everywhere people were discussing the probabilities of a successful pursuit. The Reform Club was especially agitated.

“I think,” said Stuart, “that the chances are in favour of[31 - in favour of – в пользу] the thief. He must be a shrewd[32 - shrewd – хитрый] fellow.

”

“Well, but where will he go?” asked Ralph. “No country is safe for him.”

“Oh, I don’t know that. The world is big enough.”

“It was once,” said Phileas Fogg.

“What do you mean by `once`? Is the world small now?”

“Certainly,” returned Ralph. “I agree with Mr. Fogg. The world is small now. A man can now go round it ten times more quickly than a hundred years ago. And that is why the search for this thief will succeed.