目 录 上一节 下一节 
福克先生和他的牌友重新开始玩起了“惠司脱”。包括那张空位子在内，这两对牌友谁也没有埋怨这漫长的旅途。起初费克斯本来赢了一点钱，现在却正往外输，但是他的赌兴可并不比福克差。福克先生今天早上运气特别好，王牌和大分都一个劲儿不停地往他手上跑。 Once, having resolved on a bold stroke, he was on the point of playing a spade, when a voice behind him said, "I should play a diamond." 现在他把牌计算了一下准备来一回大胆的绝牌，他决定打黑桃，就在这时候他听见自己椅子后边有个人说话：“要是我，我就打红方块……” Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Fix raised their heads, and beheld Colonel Proctor. 福克先生、艾娥达夫人和费克斯三个人抬头一看，站在他们旁边的不是别人，正是普洛克托上校。 Stamp Proctor and Phileas Fogg recognised each other at once. 斯汤姆·普洛克托和斐利亚·福克两个人一见面马上就认出来了。 "Ah! it's you, is it, Englishman?" cried the colonel; "it's you who are going to play a spade!" “哦！原来是你，英国先生，”上校喊着说，“就是你要打黑桃！” 
“是我打牌，还是你打牌。”斐利亚·福克出了一张黑桃十，冷冰冰地回答说。 "Well, it pleases me to have it diamonds," replied Colonel Proctor, in an insolent tone. “那好啊，我可是愿意打红方块。”普洛克托上校带着气说。 He made a movement as if to seize the card which had just been played, adding, "You don't understand anything about whist." 他同时伸手就要拿那张黑桃十，一面说：“你根本就不懂得怎么打。” "Perhaps I do, as well as another," said Phileas Fogg, rising. “也许我能打的比另一个人更好，”斐利亚·福克说着，站了起来。 "You have only to try, son of John Bull," replied the colonel. “那你就来打打看吧，你这个小约翰牛！”蛮横的上校说。 
艾娥达夫人脸都吓白了，她全身的血液好象都要沸腾起来了。她拉住斐利亚·福克的手臂，福克轻轻地把她推开了，路路通准备马上向这个美国人扑过去，美国人用非常鄙视的眼光看着福克。这时，费克斯站起来了，他走近普洛克托上校，对他说，“你忘了，先生，你该找我，你不仅骂了我，甚至还打了我！” "Mr. Fix," said Mr. Fogg, "pardon me, but this affair is mine, and mine only. The colonel has again insulted me, by insisting that I should not play a spade, and he shall give me satisfaction for it." “费克斯先生！”福克先生说，“我请您原谅，但是这件事只和我一个人有关。这位上校借口说我打黑桃打错了，又一次来挑衅，我得跟他算算这笔账。” "When and where you will," replied the American, "and with whatever weapon you choose." “算就算吧，时间地点由你挑，”美国人说，“用什么家伙也听你的便！” Aouda in vain attempted to retain Mr. Fogg; as vainly did the detective endeavour to make the quarrel his. Passepartout wished to throw the colonel out of the window, but a sign from his master checked him. Phileas Fogg left the car, and the American followed him upon the platform. "Sir," said Mr. Fogg to his adversary, "I am in a great hurry to get back to Europe, and any delay whatever will be greatly to my disadvantage." 艾娥达夫人一心想拉住福克，但是一点效果也没有。费克斯企图把事情揽到自己身上也是白费力气。路路通本想把这个上校从窗口丢出去，但是他的主人扬了扬手，制止了他。这时，斐利亚·福克走出了车厢，美国人跟他一齐上了车桥。“先生，”福克先生跟对方说，“我急于要回欧洲，任何一点耽搁都会对我造成很大损失。” "Well, what's that to me?" replied Colonel Proctor. “你说这些与我有什么关系。” 
“先生，”福克先生非常客气地接着说，“自从我们在旧金山碰面之后，我已经计划好了，现在我有事要回欧洲，等事情一办完我马上就要到美洲来找你。” "Really!" “真的吗？” "Will you appoint a meeting for six months hence?" “你肯跟我约定六个月以后见面吗？” "Why not ten years hence?" “为什么你不说六年以后？” "I say six months," returned Phileas Fogg; "and I shall be at the place of meeting promptly." “我说六个月，”福克先生说，“到时候我一定来。” 
“你这话全是装蒜，找借口下台！”斯汤姆·普洛克托嚷着说，“要么你就说不敢，要么就马上干！” "Very good. You are going to New York?" “那好！马上干！”福克先生回答说，“你到纽约去吗？” "No." “我不去。” "To Chicago?" “到芝加哥？” "No." “也不去。” 
“到奥马哈？” "What difference is it to you? Do you know Plum Creek?" “你管我到哪儿去呢！你知道普鲁木河吗？” "No," replied Mr. Fogg. “我不知道。”福克先生回答说。 "It's the next station. The train will be there in an hour, and will stop there ten minutes. In ten minutes several revolver-shots could be exchanged." “就在下一站。过一个钟头就到，火车在那儿要停十分钟。有十分钟的时间，咱们满可以交换几颗子弹。” "Very well," said Mr. Fogg. "I will stop at Plum Creek." “算数，”福克先生说，“我在普鲁木河下车。” 
“我甚至相信你，准会永远留在那儿。”美国人穷凶极恶地说。 "Who knows?" replied Mr. Fogg, returning to the car as coolly as usual. He began to reassure Aouda, telling her that blusterers were never to be feared, and begged Fix to be his second at the approaching duel, a request which the detective could not refuse. Mr. Fogg resumed the interrupted game with perfect calmness. “那就要看了，先生。”福克先生回答说，他说完这话就走进了车厢，依然和平时一样冷静。他回到车厢，先安慰了艾娥达夫人几句，说这种纸老虎没什么可怕。然后他就约费克斯停一会决斗的时候作他的公证人，费克斯当然不能拒绝，于是斐利亚·福克若无其事地又拿起刚才的牌，继续安安静静地打他的黑桃。 At eleven o'clock the locomotive's whistle announced that they were approaching Plum Creek station. Mr. Fogg rose, and, followed by Fix, went out upon the platform. Passepartout accompanied him, carrying a pair of revolvers. Aouda remained in the car, as pale as death. 十一点钟，机车的汽笛宣布普鲁木河车站到了。福克先生站起来，走向车桥，后面跟着费克斯。路路通背着两支手枪，陪着福克先生走了出去。这时，艾娥达夫人吓得面无人色，独自留在车厢里。 The door of the next car opened, and Colonel Proctor appeared on the platform, attended by a Yankee of his own stamp as his second. But just as the combatants were about to step from the train, the conductor hurried up, and shouted, "You can't get off, gentlemen!" 同时另一节车厢的门也开了。普洛克托上校也走上了车桥，后面跟着一个神气跟他相仿的“洋乞”，那是他的公证人。但是，当两个对手刚走下火车，列车员就喊着跑过来了：“别下车，先生们。” "Why not?" asked the colonel. “为什么？”上校问。 
“我们的车误点二十分钟，车子在这儿不停了。” "But I am going to fight a duel with this gentleman." “可是我要在此地跟这位先生决斗。” "I am sorry," said the conductor; "but we shall be off at once. There's the bell ringing now." “这个，我很抱歉，”列车员说，“可是火车立刻就要开了。喏，打点了。” The train started. 真的钟响了，火车又开了。
| 
