Unit 13B - Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of £20,000
Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of £20,000
Jules Verne
Mr. Phileas Fogg was a precise man living in London. He was one of the most noticeable members of the Reform Club. On October 2, 1872, Wednesday, at the Club, he wagered £20,000 against five club members and bet that he could go around the world in 80 days.
After dinner, at twenty minutes before six, Mr. Fogg re-appeared in the reading-room, sat down and began to read the newspapers again. Half an hour later several members of the Reform came in and drew up to the fireplace, where a coal fire was steadily burning. They were Mr. Fogg's usual partners at whist: Andrew Stuart, an engineer; John Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin, bankers; Thomas Flanagan, a brewer; and Gauthier Ralph, one of the Directors of the Bank of England—all rich and highly respectable people.
"Well, Ralph," said Thomas Flanagan, "what about that robbery?"
"Oh," replied Stuart, "the Bank will lose the money."
"On the contrary," broke in Ralph, "I hope we may catch the robber. Skilful detectives have been sent to all the principal ports of America and the Continent, and he'll be a clever fellow if he slips through their fingers."
"But have you got the robber's description?" asked Stuart.
"In the first place, he is no robber at all," returned Ralph, positively.
"What! A fellow who makes off with fifty-five thousand pounds, no robber?"
"No."
"Perhaps he's a manufacturer, then."
"The Daily Telegraph says that he is a gentleman."
It was Phileas Fogg who made this remark. He entered into the conversation. The affair they were talking about had occurred three days before at the Bank of England. A pack of banknotes worth 55,000 pounds had been taken from the chief cashier's table, while he was writing the receipt of three shillings and sixpence. Of course, he could not have his eyes everywhere. The Bank of England has confidence in the honesty of the public. There are neither guards nor gratings to protect its treasures: gold, silver, banknotes.
As soon as the robbery was discovered, detectives hurried to Liverpool, Glasgow, New York, and other ports, for the reward of two thousand pounds, and five per cent of the sum that might be recovered.
There were good reasons for supposing, as The Daily Telegraph said, that the thief did not belong to a professional band. On the day of the robbery a well-dressed gentleman of perfect manners, with a well-to-do air, had been seen going to and fro in the paying room where the crime was committed. A description of him was sent to the detectives. The papers and clubs were full of the affair, and everywhere people were discussing the probabilities of a successful pursuit; and the Reform Club was especially anxious, for several of its members were Bank officials.
Ralph would not admit that the work of the detectives was likely to be in vain, for he thought that the prize offered would greatly stimulate their zeal and activity. But Stuart was far from sharing this confidence; and, as they placed themselves at the whist-table, they continued to argue the matter. Stuart and Flanagan played together, while Phileas Fogg had Fallentin for his partner. As the game continued, they stopped talking about the robbery, but picked up the topic again between rubbers.
"I maintain," said Stuart, "that the chances are in favour of the thief, who must be a shrewd fellow."
"Well, but where can he fly to?" asked Ralph. "No country is safe for him."
"Pshaw!"
"Where could he go, then?"
"Oh, I don't know that. The world is big enough."
"It was once," said Phileas Fogg, in a low tone. "Cut, sir," he added, handing the cards to Thomas Flanagan.
The discussion fell during the rubber, after which Stuart took up its thread.
"What do you mean by 'once'? Has the world grown smaller?"
"Certainly," returned Ralph. "I agree with Mr. Fogg. The world has grown smaller, since 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 be more likely to succeed."
"And also why the thief can get away more easily."
"Be so good as to play, Mr. Stuart," said Phileas Fogg.
But Stuart was not convinced, and when the hand was finished, said eagerly: "You have a strange way, Ralph, of proving that the world has grown smaller. So, because you can go round it in three months—"
"In eighty days," interrupted Phileas Fogg.
"That is true, gentlemen," added John Sullivan. "Only eighty days, now that the section between Rothal and Allahabad, on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, has been opened. Here is the estimate made by The Daily Telegraph:
From London to Suez via Mont Cenis and Brindisi, by rail and steamboats ...... 7 days
From Suez to Bombay, by steamer ...... 13 days
From Bombay to Calcutta, by rail ...... 3 days
From Calcutta to *, by steamer ...... 13 days
From * to Yokohama (Japan), by steamer ...... 6 days
From Yokohama to San Francisco, by steamer ...... 22 days
From San Francisco to New York, by rail ...... 7 days
From New York to London, by steamer and rail ...... 9 days
Total ...... 80 days
"Yes, in eighty days!" exclaimed Stuart, who in his excitement dealt cards wrong, "But that doesn't take into account bad weather, contrary winds, shipwrecks, railway accidents, and so on."
"All included," returned Phileas Fogg, continuing to play despite the discussion.
"But suppose the Indians pull up the rails," replied Stuart; "suppose they stop the trains, plunder the luggage-vans, and scalp the passengers!"
"All included," calmly retorted Fogg; adding, as he threw down the cards, "Two trumps."
Stuart, whose turn it was to deal, gathered them up, and went on: "You are right, theoretically, Mr. Fogg, but practically—"
"Practically also, Mr. Stuart."
"I'd like to see you do it in eighty days."
"It depends on you. Shall we go?"
"Good Heavens! But I would wager four thousand pounds that such a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible."
"Quite possible, on the contrary," returned Mr. Fogg.
"Well, make it, then!"
"The journey round the world in eighty days?"
"Yes."
"I should like nothing better."
"When?"
"At once. Only I warn you that I shall do it at your expense."
"It's absurd!" cried Stuart, who was beginning to be annoyed at the persistency of his friend.
"Come, let's go on with the game."
"Deal over again, then," said Phileas Fogg. "There's a false deal."
Stuart took up the pack with a feverish hand; then suddenly put them down again.
"Well, Mr. Fogg," said he, "it shall be so: I will wager the four thousand on it."
"Calm yourself, my dear Stuart," said Fallentin. "It's only a joke."
"When I say I'll wager," returned Stuart, "I mean it." "All right," said Mr. Fogg; and, turning to the others, he continued: "I have a deposit of twenty thousand at Baring's which I will willingly risk upon it."
"Twenty thousand pounds!" cried Sullivan. "Twenty thousand pounds, which you would lose by a single accidental delay!"
"The unforeseen does not exist," quietly replied Phileas Fogg.
"But, Mr. Fogg, eighty days are only the estimate of the least possible time in which the journey can be made."
"A well-used minimum suffices for everything."
"But, in order not to exceed it, you must jump mathematically from the trains upon the steamers, and from the steamers upon the trains again."
"I will jump—mathematically."
"You are joking."
"A true Englishman doesn't joke when he is talking about so serious a thing as a wager," replied Phileas Fogg, solemnly. "I will bet £20,000 against anyone who wishes that I will make the tour of the world in eighty days or less; in nineteen hundred and twenty hours, or a hundred and fifteen thousand two hundred minutes. Do you accept?"
"We accept," replied Messrs. Stuart, Fallentin, Sullivan, Flanagan, and Ralph, after consulting each other.
"Good," said Mr. Fogg. "The train leaves for Dover at a quarter before nine. I will take it."
"This very evening?" asked Stuart.
"This very evening," returned Phileas Fogg. He took out and consulted a pocket almanac, and added, "As today is Wednesday, the 2nd of October, I shall be due in London in this very room of the Reform Club, on Saturday, the 21st of December, at a quarter before nine p.m.; or else the £20,000, now deposited in my name at Baring's, will belong to you, in fact and in right, gentlemen. Here is a cheque for the amount."
A memorandum of the wager was at once drawn up and signed by the six parties, during which Phileas Fogg remained calm. He certainly did not bet to win, and had only risked the £20,000, half of his fortune, because he knew that he might have to spend the other half to carry out this difficult, not to say unattainable, project. As for his antagonists, they seemed much agitated; not so much by the value of their stake, as because they felt that betting under conditions so difficult to their friend was somehow morally wrong.
The clock struck seven, and the party offered to suspend the game so that Mr. Fogg might make his preparations for departure.
"I am quite ready now," was his tranquil response. "Diamonds are trumps: Be so good as to play, gentlemen.""
参考译文——菲利亚·福格先生的20000英镑赌注
菲利亚·福格先生的20000英镑赌注
儒勒·凡尔纳
菲利亚·福格生活在伦敦，是一个严谨的人，也是改良倶乐部中最引人注目的成员之一。在 1872年10月2日星期三那天，福格先生在俱乐部里押注2万英镑，与另外五个倶乐部成员打赌他会在80天内环游地球一周。
5点40分吃过晚饭后，福格先生又出现在阅读室，他坐下来再次读起了报纸。半小时后，一些改良倶乐部的会员也进来了，紧挨着炭火烧得很旺的壁炉坐下。他们都是常和福格先生一起玩惠斯特牌的牌友：安德鲁·斯图尔特是工程师，约翰·苏利万和萨缪尔·法郎丹是银行家，托马斯·弗拉纳根是啤酒商，高杰·拉尔夫是英格兰银行董事会董事。这些人都是既有钱又有声望的人。
“喂，拉尔夫，”托马斯·弗拉纳根问，“那场盗窃案怎么样了？”
斯图尔特答道：“哦，银行会损失那笔钱。”
高杰·拉尔夫打断他的话，说道：“相反，我想我们会抓住那个窃贼的。很多能干的侦探已经被派往美洲和西欧的重要港口，这位梁上君子要想逃脱侦探的手心可不容易。”
斯图尔特反问道：“那你知道那个贼的相貌吗？”
“首先，那个人并不是贼，”高杰·拉尔夫郑重其事地说。
“什么！那家伙偷走了55000英镑还不是个贼？”
“不是。”
“那或许他是个制造商。”
“《每日电讯报》说他是一位绅士。”
说这句话的人不是别人，正是福克。他加入到这场谈话中。他们所讨论的是三天前发生在英格兰银行的盗窃案。总出纳员在写一张三先令六便士的收据时，一叠55000英镑的钞票被人从总出纳员的柜台上拿走了。当然，他不可能眼观六路、耳听八方。英格兰银行相信公众的诚实，他们既没设保安，也没设防护网来保护他们的资产：黄金、白银和钞票。
事发后一批密探匆忙赶到利物浦、格拉斯哥、纽约及其他港口。破获此案的人不但可以获得2000英镑的奖金，而且还可以获得追回的赃款的5%。
可是，正如《每日电讯报》所说，人们有理由设想作此案者并非来自专业的盗窃团伙。盗窃案发当天，有人看见一位穿着得体、举止优雅、看起来很富裕的绅士在案发现场徘徊良久。关于他的一些细节已经发到侦探们的手中。各家报纸和俱乐部都在谈论此事，而且每个地方的人们都在讨论成功追捕这个小偷的可能性。改良倶乐部对此事更是极其关注，因为他们当中有几名成员在银行工作。
高杰·拉尔夫认为侦探们的工作不会白费，因为他觉得提供的奖赏会大大激起他们的热情和积极性。但是斯图尔特却没有这样的信心，他们围坐在牌桌的四周，继续争论这个问题。斯图尔特和弗拉纳根一伙，菲利亚·福格则和法郎丹一伙。他们打着牌的时候，不再讨论这起盗窃案，但等到一局结束算分的时候，又重新开始讨论此话题。
“我认为那个贼能够逃掉。他准是个机灵的家伙！”斯图尔特说。
“但是他又能逃到哪里去？”高杰·拉尔夫问道，“他去哪个国家都不安全。”
“哼！”
“那么他又能去哪里？”
“哦，那我不知道，世界这么大。”
“那是昔日的情况了，”菲利亚·福格用低沉的声音说道，接着边把牌递给托马斯·法郎丹边补充说，“切牌，先生。”
打牌的时候，争论暂时中止。可是过后，安德鲁·斯图尔特又提起来了。
“你说‘昔日’是什么意思？这世界变小了吗？”
“当然，”高杰·拉尔夫答道，“我赞同福格先生的看法，这世界变小了，因为人们环绕地球 一周的速度要比100年前快10倍。这也正是为什么捉到小偷很有可能。”
“而且也正因如此小偷更容易逃脱。”
“该您出牌了，斯图尔特先生，”菲利亚·福格说道。
但是斯图尔特仍旧不服输，一局牌打完，他又急切地说：“拉尔夫先生，您用奇怪的方式证明地球缩小了！您之所以这样说，是因为如今花三个月的时间就能绕地球一周……”
“只要80天，”菲利亚·福格打断道。
“的确如此，先生们，”约翰·苏利万补充道，“大印度半岛铁路的勒塔尔到安拉阿巴德段通车后，80天足够了，这是《每日电讯报》所作的估算：
自伦敦途经塞尼山与布林迪西至苏伊士，乘火车、船......7天
自苏伊士至孟买，乘轮船......13天
自孟买至加尔各答，乘火车.......3天
自加尔各答至香港，乘轮船......13天
自香港至日本横滨，乘轮船......6天
自横滨至旧金山，乘轮船......22天
自旧金山至纽约，乘火车......7天
自纽约至伦敦，乘轮船、火车......9天
共计......80天”
“是的，80天内！”斯图尔特喊道，激动地连牌都出错了，“但是这没把坏天气、逆风、沉船事故和铁路事故等考虑在内。”
“这些都算进去了，”菲利亚·福格先生一边说着一边继续打牌。
“但是假如印第安人把铁路钢轨撬掉呢？”斯图尔特回答说，“假如他们截住火车，掠夺行李，还会剥下旅客的头皮呢！”
“所有的都算上了，”福格先生平静地反驳着，一边把牌放到桌上，一边说，“两张王牌！”
现在轮到安德鲁·斯图尔特洗牌了，他一边收牌一边说：“福格先生，从理论上讲您是对的， 可是实际做起来……”
“实际上也是这样，斯图尔特先生！”
“我倒想看看你怎么在80天里环游地球一周。”
“这全凭您的决定，咱们一道去吧？”
“老天爷！我愿赌4000英镑，在以上这些条件下环游地球一周只需80天是不可能的。”
“正相反，完全可能，”福格先生反驳道。
“好，那您就试试吧！”
“要我80天环游地球一周？”
“是的。”
“我想没有比这更好的了。”
“什么时候动身？”
“马上！只是我得先跟您说清楚，这笔旅费得您出。”
“太荒谬了！”斯图尔特嚷道，他这位朋友一直争论不休，他开始对此感到恼火了。
“好啦， 我们继续打牌。”
“那么请重新洗牌，”菲利亚·福格说，“牌发错了。”
安德鲁·斯图尔特用他那烦躁得有些发热的手把牌收起来，突然他又把牌往桌上一摊。
“好吧，福格先生，”他说，“咱们算说定了，我愿跟您赌4000英镑。”
“冷静点，我亲爱的斯图尔特，”法郎丹说，“只不过是个玩笑！”
“我说赌就赌，”安德鲁·斯图尔特回答说，“绝不是说着玩的。”“好！”福格先生边说边转向其他人，继续说道，“我在巴林氏银行有20000英镑的存款，我愿以此为赌注。”
“20000英镑！”苏利万嚷道，“稍有意外你就会失去这20000英镑！”
“这样的意外不存在，”菲利亚·福格平静地说。
“但是，福格先生，80天只不过是估算出的能完成这个旅程的最短时间。”
“最少的时间，只要好好利用，就足够了。”
“但是要想不超过80天，必须极准确地一下火车就上船，一下船马上又上火车才行啊！”
“那我就精确地做到。”
“你在开玩笑。”
“一个真正的英国人在谈论像赌博之类的严肃事情时，是不开玩笑的，”菲利亚·福格郑重其事地回答说，“我将出20000英镑赔我能在80天以内环游地球一周，也就是1920个小时或者说115200分钟绕地球一周。你们接受吗？”
“我们跟你赌，”斯图尔特、法郎丹、苏利万、弗拉纳根和拉尔夫这几位先生商量了一会儿之后说道。
“好！”福格先生说，“去往多佛的火车8点45分开车，我会乘坐这趟车。”
“就在今晚？”斯图尔特问道。
“就是今晚，”菲利亚·福格回答说。他从口袋里拿出一本袖珍历书，翻阅后又说道：“今天是10月2号星期三，我应该于12月21号星期六晚上8点45分前回到伦敦改良俱乐部的这个房间里。要是我不如期回来，那么我存在巴林氏那里的20000英镑，不论在法律上，或是在事实上都归你们了，先生们。这儿是一张20000英镑的支票。”
—张打赌的契约书立即写好，六位当事人在上面签了字。整个过程中福格很冷静。他打赌当然不是为了赢钱，他只拿出一半财产的20000英镑打赌，是因为他知道大约要花费另一半的财产来完成这个很困难，甚至可能做不到的计划。至于他的对手们，他们看起来有些不安，这并不是因为赌注太大，而是因为他们感觉完成这件事如此困难，跟这位朋友打这样一个赌，从道义上说是不对的。
7点的钟声敲响了，他们向福格先生建议停止打牌，好让他在动身前准备准备。
“我现在已经准备好了，”这位绅士心平气和地回答道，“方块为王牌，请出牌，先生们。”
Key Words:
respectable [ri'spektəbl]
n. 品格高尚的人
adj. 值得尊重的，人格
noticeable ['nəutisəbl]
adj. 显而易见的
minutes ['minits]
n. 会议记录，(复数)分钟
reform [ri'fɔ:m]
v. 改革，改造，革新
n. 改革，改良
contrary ['kɔntrəri]
adj. 相反的，截然不同的
adv. 相反
precise [pri'sais]
adj. 精确的，准确的，严格的，恰好的
honesty ['ɔnisti]
n. 诚实，正直
protect [prə'tekt]
vt. 保护，投保
cashier [kæ'ʃiə]
n. 出纳员，收银员
vt. 解职，丢弃
receipt [ri'si:t]
n. 收据，收条，收到
v. 出收据
conversation [.kɔnvə'seiʃən]
n. 会话，谈话
confidence ['kɔnfidəns]
adj. 骗得信任的
n. 信任，信心，把握
description [di'skripʃən]
n. 描写，描述，说明书，作图，类型
committed [kə'mitid]
adj. 献身于某种事业的，委托的
stimulate ['stimjuleit]
vt. 刺激，激励，鼓舞
vi. 起刺激作用
professional [prə'feʃənl]
adj. 职业的，专业的，专门的
n. 专业人
reform [ri'fɔ:m]
v. 改革，改造，革新
n. 改革，改良
band [bænd]
n. 带，箍，波段
n. 队，一群，乐队
confidence ['kɔnfidəns]
adj. 骗得信任的
n. 信任，信心，把握
tone [təun]
n. 音调，语气，品质，调子，色调
vt. 使
partner ['pɑ:tnə]
n. 搭档，伙伴，合伙人
v. 同 ... 合
shrewd [ʃru:d]
adj. 精明的
fro [frəu]
adv. 向那边，向后，离开，回来
interrupted [intə'rʌptid]
adj. 中断的；被打断的；不规则的 vt. 打断；中断
rubber ['rʌbə]
n. 橡胶，橡皮，橡胶制品
adj. 橡胶的
peninsula [pi'ninsjulə]
n. 半岛
thread [θred]
n. 线，细丝，线索，思路，螺纹
vt. 穿线
convinced [kən'vinst]
adj. 信服的
plunder ['plʌndə]
v. 掠夺，抢劫，抢夺 n. 抢夺，掠夺品，战利品
impossible [im'pɔsəbl]
adj. 不可能的，做不到的
persistency [pə'sistənsi]
n. 坚持，毅力
absurd [əb'sə:d]
adj. 荒唐的
n. 荒唐
willingly ['wiliŋli]
adv. 乐意地，心甘情愿地
annoyed
adj. 恼怒的；烦闷的 v. 使烦恼；打扰
exceed [ik'si:d]
vt. 超过，胜过，超出界限
vi. 领先
delay [di'lei]
v. 耽搁，推迟，延误
n. 耽搁，推迟，延期
accidental [.æksi'dentl]
adj. 意外的，偶然的，附属的
n. 偶然，
minutes ['minits]
n. 会议记录，(复数)分钟
suspend [səs'pend]
v. 推迟，悬挂，暂停，勒令停职
response [ri'spɔns]
n. 回答，响应，反应，答复
n. [宗
tranquil ['træŋkwil]
adj. 安静的，宁静的，稳定的，不变的
reform [ri'fɔ:m]
v. 改革，改造，革新
n. 改革，改良
fortune ['fɔ:tʃən]
n. 财产，命运，运气
departure [di'pɑ:tʃə]
n. 离开，出发，分歧
stake [steik]
n. 桩，赌注，利害关系
v. 下注，用桩支撑
agitated ['ædʒiteitid]
adj. 激动不安的，焦虑的 动词agitate的过去式
参考资料：
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(1)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(2)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(3)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(4)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(5)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(6)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
- 现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(7)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语
现代大学英语精读(第2版)第二册:U13B Mr. Phileas Fogg's Wager of ￡20,000(8)_大学教材听力 - 可可英语