Around the World in Eighty Days Page #5

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So l did the only decent thing

a man could do.

-You mean--

-Yes, l finessed my queen of hearts...

and forced Finch-Tattersall

to sacrifice his ace.

lt was a tense moment.

l wish you'd seen

Lord Dudley's expression.

Poor fellow went dead white.

Bit clean through his pipe stem.

-But l'm afraid l've bored you.

-How can you say that, Mr. Fogg?

l don't think in my entire life....

That's the most enthralling story

l've ever heard.

You really mean that?

l'm most awfully pleased.

-lt's so personal and yet dramatic.

-That's exactly the way l feel about it!

l had no idea

you were so keen about whist.

l adore it.

There is a kind of precision about it.

l've always admired men

who are precise...

who have a sense of order and discipline.

-You don't say that?

-Yes, for example...

l simply cannot abide

a man who isn't punctual.

lt's extraordinary how well you put it.

We have so little time

in our brief mortal span.

My dear princess,

l must ask your forgiveness.

-Why, whatever for?

-l completely forgot to...

offer my condolences

upon your bereavement.

-What?

-To extend my sympathy...

for your anguish at this time of grief.

-But l don't feel any grief, Mr. Fogg.

-None at all?

You see, l was a wife in name only.

l met the late rajah exactly once,

at the age of seven...

before my parents sent me

to England for my education.

You never saw him again?

Never.

Would you care to hear about the time

l drew a flush hand in diamonds?

lf you'd care to confide in me.

ls Mr. Fogg always so proper,

haughty and formal?

Believe me, Madame,

l know nothing about him...

except that he lives by this.

Have there been any women in his life?

l assume he must have had a mother,

but l am not certain.

Perhaps he has some secret sorrow,

some love who jilted him.

He has only one love. Cards. Whist.

He thinks of nothing but whist,

morning, noon, and night.

Very interesting.

Yes, he's a cool article, Mr. Talley.

A very unpredictable cove.

Just when you think you've cornered him,

he gives you the slip.

-Got you puzzled, has he?

-Yes, by jingo, he has.

Look at this heathen young woman,

for instance, this Mrs. Aouda.

l know my man.

And l tell you,

she don't fit into the pattern.

He was down here, you know,

about an hour ago.

He was?

-What did he want?

-This, that, and the other.

He was quizzing me

about steamships out of Hong Kong.

-For where?

-Yokohama.

We're due at Hong Kong

at noon tomorrow.

He sails on the S,S, Carnatic

at 8:
00 the next day.

That's what he thinks,

but l'll nail him this time...

you can pledge your last farthing on that.

You didn't do so well in Calcutta,

according to you.

What could l do?

l got him and his servant's bail

set at 1,000 apiece.

And he hands it over

without batting a lash.

lf that blasted warrant had only arrived....

Cheer up. You've got 20 hours to get him

in Hong Kong before the Carnatic sails.

Yes, sir, l'll lag the blighter there

if l have to turn out the Governor to do it!

Bulldog tenacity, Mr. Fix,

that's the spirit that built an empire.

''134 Lower Lascar Row, Victoria.''

We will now go in search

of your uncle, Mr. Cominjee.

Here, follow that rickshaw, chop-chop!

Here's a pretty kettle of fish.

A man trying to run a business

and the door's locked. l wonder what....

Boss man here? Him back pretty soon?

l should say the probabilities

are strongly against it.

l beg your pardon. Where is Mr. Cominjee?

ln Holland, l believe.

He amassed a considerable fortune

by means l shall not attempt to describe...

and has retired to Amsterdam

to raise tulips.

He might at least have left a card

on his door to that effect.

The gentleman was quite illiterate, sir,

and moreover, he was pressed for time.

He retired 10 minutes

before the constables arrived.

That alters things quite a bit.

Obviously the princess

cannot remain here, alone, in Hong Kong.

-There seems to be only one alternative.

-l know what you're going to say...

but please don't send me back to lndia.

lf you will excuse me, sir,

l agree with the princess.

You know she has suffered very much.

Your fears are groundless. l have

no intention of returning her to lndia.

She is our responsibility

and will continue with us to Europe.

l'll escort her to the Royal Court Hotel

and find accommodation for tonight.

You will buy the tickets.

Three cabins on the Carnatic,

sailing tomorrow morning for Yokohama.

-And don't dilly-dally.

-Not dilly-dally.

Here, you, follow that ostrich!

Giddy up!

Strike me, it's my old friend

off the Rangoon.

Hello, sir. Excuse me one minute.

Three cabins

on the steamer Carnatic, please.

Yes, sir. There's been a slight change

in the schedule, sir.

She sails tonight

instead of in the morning as planned.

-l didn't know, but all the better.

-Thank you.

That will be all.

-l trust that you will be comfortable here.

-Yes, thank you. l'm sure l will.

lt's very kind of you

to concern yourself about me.

Not at all.

Since you are temporarily alone, the least

l can do is look after your welfare.

l'm afraid l must have been a burden.

Quite the reverse, l assure you.

Your company has been most welcome.

l only wish l could express

my infinite gratitude.

Please, you shouldn't do that sort of thing.

Mr. Fogg, why must you be so British?

-Madam, l am what l am.

-No.

You're kind and warm and generous.

Would you care to join me on the veranda?

They serve an outstanding lemon squash.

lf you wish.

-l see you're leaving Hong Kong.

-Correct, my friend.

-And 12 hours ahead of time.

-Think of that.

Nothing stops you and Mr. Fogg, does it?

-What name do you want on these tickets?

-Just copy these.

Look here,

since we may not see each other again...

why don't we have

a little farewell drink together?

Good idea.

Nice and cozy.

Over here.

Remember, we don't have very much time.

l have to get my tickets.

Nonsense. We'll send a boy for them.

Here, you.

You know the Transpacific

Steamship Company in Canton Road?

-Near post office?

-Yes. Send someone over there.

Pick up tickets for Mr. Passepartout.

-Passport, too?

-Yes.

-Thank you, sir.

-Well, what will it be?

-A lemon squash.

-Poppycock.

l said l'd buy you a drink,

and l meant a man's drink.

All right, anything you want,

but not too strong, please.

My friend and l will have

a Hong Kong Snickersnee.

-What is that?

-lt's indescribable. Liquid music.

lt warms the heart, fires the imagination,

broadens the horizon--

-What's happening?

-Local color.

A sort of a show they put on

for the tourists.

Looks very real to me.

They're just boisterous children.

lgnore them.

Now, look here, Passepartout.

You've been square with me

and l intend to behave the same.

Do you still think l'm an agent

for those fellows at the Reform Club?

-No, but l don't know what you are.

-Then l'll tell you.

l'm a professional detective.

And l'm in pursuit of a very cunning,

very slippery criminal.

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