Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/239

 streets, its huts in which groveled a miscellaneous population, dirty and ragged; then they passed through the European town, adorned with brick houses, shaded by cocoa-nut trees, bristling with masts, through which, notwithstanding the early hour, were driving handsomely dressed gentlemen, in elegant turn-outs.

The palki-ghari stopped before a dwelling of plain appearance, but not used for private purposes. The policeman let his prisoners out, for they could, indeed, be called thus, and he led them into a room with grated windows, saying to them, "At half-past eight you will appear before Judge Obadiah."

Then he left, and closed the door.

"See! we are prisoners!" cried Passepartout, dropping into a chair.

Aouda, addressing Mr. Fogg immediately, said in a voice whose emotion she sought in vain to disguise, "Sir you must leave me! It is on my account that you are pursued! It is because you have rescued me!"

Phileas Fogg contented himself with saying that that could not be possible. Pursued on account of this suttee affair! Inadmissible! How would the complainants dare present themselves? There was a mistake. Mr. Fogg added that, in any event, he would not abandon the young woman, and that he would take her to Hong Kong.

"But the steamer leaves at noon!" remarked Passepartout.

"Before noon we shall be on board," was the simple reply of the impassible gentleman.

This was so flatly asserted that Passepartout could not help saying to himself, "Parbleu! that is certain! before noon we will be on board!" But he was not at all reassured.

At half-past eight the door of the room was opened. The policeman reappeared, and he led the prisoners into the next It was a court-room, and quite a large crowd, composed of Europeans and natives, already occupied the rear of the room.

Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout were seated on a bench in front of the seats reserved for the magistrate and the clerk.

This magistrate, Judge Obadiah, entered almost imme-