The detective passed down the quay¹, and rapidly made his way to the consul²'s office, where he was at once admitted to the presence of that official.

`Consul,' said he, without preamble<sup>3</sup>, `I have strong reasons for believing that my man is a passenger on the "Mongolia".' And he narrated⁴ what had just passed concerning the passport.

`Well, Mr Fix,' replied the consul; `I shall not be sorry to see the rascal's face; but perhaps he won't come here, - that is, if he is the person you suppose him to be. A robber doesn't quite like to leave traces of his flight behind him; and, besides, he is not obliged to have his passport countersigned⁵.'

`If he is as shrewd as I think he is, consul, he will come.'

`To have his passport visaed?'

`Yes. Passports are only good for annoying honest folks, and aiding in the flight of rogues⁶. I assure you it will be quite the thing for him to do; but I hope you will not visa the passport.'

`Why not? If the passport is genuine I have no right to refuse.'

`Still, I must keep this man here until I can get a warrant to arrest him from London.'

`Ah, that's your look-out. But I cannot--'

The consul did not finish his sentence, for as he spoke⁷ a knock was heard at the door, and two strangers entered, one of whom was the servant whom Fix had met on the quay. The other, who was his master, held out his passport with the request that the consul would do him the favour to visa it. The consul took the document and carefully read it, whilst Fix observed, or rather devoured⁸, the stranger with his eyes from a corner of the room.

`You are Mr Phileas Fogg?' said the consul, after reading the passport.

`I am.'

`And this man is your servant?'

`He is; a Frenchman, named Passepartout.'

`You are from London?'

点击收听单词发音  

1 quay
n.码头，靠岸处
参考例句：
There are all kinds of ships in a quay.码头停泊各式各样的船。 The side of the boat hit the quay with a grinding jar.船舷撞到码头发出刺耳的声音。

2 consul
n.领事；执政官
参考例句：
A consul's duty is to help his own nationals.领事的职责是帮助自己的同胞。 He'll hold the post of consul general for the United States at Shanghai.他将就任美国驻上海总领事(的职务)。

3 preamble
n.前言；序文
参考例句：
He spoke without preamble.他没有开场白地讲起来。 The controversy has arisen over the text of the preamble to the unification treaty.针对统一条约的序文出现了争论。

4 narrated
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 countersigned
v.连署，副署，会签 （文件）( countersign的过去式 )
参考例句：
"Behold your papers, Jarvis Lorry, countersigned." “看看你们的证件吧！贾维斯 - 罗瑞，已经签过字了。” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记 The payment has to countersigned by the mortgagor. 该付款必须有抵押人的会签。 来自口语例句

6 rogues
n.流氓( rogue的名词复数 )；无赖；调皮捣蛋的人；离群的野兽
参考例句：
'I'll show these rogues that I'm an honest woman,'said my mother. “我要让那些恶棍知道，我是个诚实的女人。” 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛 The rogues looked at each other, but swallowed the home-thrust in silence. 那些恶棍面面相觑，但只好默默咽下这正中要害的话。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛

7 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 devoured
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光
参考例句：
She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志，还是报纸，只要能弄得到，她都看得津津有味。 The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。

9 queried
v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问
参考例句：
She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》 \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事？”琴向觉民问道，她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

10 perfectly
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。 Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

11 phlegmatic
adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的
参考例句：
Commuting in the rush-hour requires a phlegmatic temperament.在上下班交通高峰期间乘坐通勤车要有安之若素的心境。 The british character is often said to be phlegmatic.英国人的性格常说成是冷漠的。

12 consulate
n.领事馆
参考例句：
The Spanish consulate is the large white building opposite the bank.西班牙领事馆是银行对面的那栋高大的白色建筑物。 The American consulate was a magnificent edifice in the centre of Bordeaux.美国领事馆是位于波尔多市中心的一座宏伟的大厦。

13 descended
a.为...后裔的，出身于...的
参考例句：
A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。 The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

14 inscribed
v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接
参考例句：
His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。 The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 itinerary
n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划
参考例句：
The two sides have agreed on the itinerary of the visit.双方商定了访问日程。 The next place on our itinerary was Silistra.我们行程的下一站是锡利斯特拉。

16 stipulated
vt.& vi.规定；约定adj.[法]合同规定的
参考例句：
A delivery date is stipulated in the contract. 合同中规定了交货日期。 Yes, I think that's what we stipulated. 对呀，我想那是我们所订定的。 来自辞典例句

17 noted
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。 Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

18 wont
adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯
参考例句：
He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。 It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。