Around the World in 80 Days | Page 7

conversation. The affair which
formed its subject, and which was town talk, had occurred three days before at the Bank
of England. A package of banknotes, to the value of fifty-five thousand pounds, had been
taken from the principal cashier's table, that functionary being at the moment engaged in
registering the receipt of three shillings and sixpence. Of course, he could not have his
eyes everywhere. Let it be observed that the Bank of England reposes a touching
confidence in the honesty of the public. There are neither guards nor gratings to protect
its treasures; gold, silver, banknotes are freely exposed, at the mercy of the first comer. A
keen observer of English customs relates that, being in one of the rooms of the Bank one
day, he had the curiosity to examine a gold ingot weighing some seven or eight pounds.
He took it up, scrutinised it, passed it to his neighbour, he to the next man, and so on until
the ingot, going from hand to hand, was transferred to the end of a dark entry; nor did it
return to its place for half an hour. Meanwhile, the cashier had not so much as raised his
head. But in the present instance things had not gone so smoothly. The package of notes

not being found when five o'clock sounded from the ponderous clock in the "drawing
office," the amount was passed to the account of profit and loss. As soon as the robbery
was discovered, picked detectives hastened off to Liverpool, Glasgow, Havre, Suez,
Brindisi, New York, and other ports, inspired by the proffered reward of two thousand
pounds, and five per cent. on the sum that might be recovered. Detectives were also
charged with narrowly watching those who arrived at or left London by rail, and a
judicial examination was at once entered upon.
There were real grounds 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
polished manners, and with a well-to-do air, had been observed going to and fro in the
paying room where the crime was committed. A description of him was easily procured
and sent to the detectives; and some hopeful spirits, of whom Ralph was one, did not
despair of his apprehension. 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 agitated, several of its members being Bank officials.
Ralph would not concede 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 proceeded the conversation ceased,
excepting between the rubbers, when it revived again.
"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 the incredulous 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 " From Bombay to Calcutta, by
rail ................... 3 " From Calcutta to Hong Kong, by steamer ............. 13 " From Hong
Kong to Yokohama (Japan), by steamer ..... 6 " From Yokohama to