It is time to relate what a change took place in English public opinion when it transpired that the real bankrobber, a certain James Strand, had been arrested, on the 17th day of December, at Edinburgh. Three days before, Phileas Fogg had been a criminal, who was being desperately followed up by the police; now he was an honourable gentleman, mathematically pursuing his eccentric journey round the world.
The papers resumed their discussion about the wager; all those who had laid bets, for or against him, revived their interest, as if by magic; the "Phileas Fogg bonds" again became negotiable, and many new wagers were made. Phileas Fogg's name was once more at a premium on 'Change.
His five friends of the Reform Club passed these three days in a state of feverish suspense. Would Phileas Fogg, whom they had forgotten, reappear before their eyes! Where was he at this moment? The 17th of December, the day of James Strand's arrest, was the seventy–sixth since Phileas Fogg's departure, and no news of him had been received. Was he dead? Had he abandoned the effort, or was he continuing his journey along the route agreed upon? And would he appear on Saturday, the 21st of December, at a quarter before nine in the evening, on the threshold of the Reform Club saloon?
The anxiety in which, for three days, London society existed, cannot be described. Telegrams were sent to America and Asia for news of Phileas Fogg. Messengers were dispatched to the house in Saville Row morning and evening. No news. The police were ignorant what had become of the detective, Fix, who had so unfortunately followed up a false scent. Bets increased, nevertheless, in number and value. Phileas Fogg, like a racehorse, was drawing near his last turning–point. The bonds were quoted, no longer at a hundred below par, but at twenty, at ten, and at five; and paralytic old Lord Albemarle bet even in his favour.
A great crowd was collected in Pall Mall and the neighbouring streets on Saturday evening; it seemed like a multitude of brokers permanently established around the Reform Club. Circulation was impeded, and everywhere disputes, discussions, and financial transactions were going on. The police had great difficulty in keeping back the crowd, and as the hour when Phileas Fogg was due approached, the excitement rose to its highest pitch.
The five antagonists of Phileas Fogg had met in the great saloon of the club. John Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin, the bankers, Andrew Stuart, the engineer, Gauthier Ralph, the director of the Bank of England, and Thomas Flanagan, the brewer, one and all waited anxiously.
When the clock indicated twenty minutes past eight, Andrew Stuart got up, saying, "Gentlemen, in twenty minutes the time agreed upon between Mr. Fogg and ourselves will have expired."
"What time did the last train arrive from Liverpool?" asked Thomas Flanagan.
"At twenty–three minutes past seven," replied Gauthier Ralph; "and the next does not arrive till ten minutes after twelve."
"Well, gentlemen," resumed Andrew Stuart, "if Phileas Fogg had come in the 7:23 train, he would have got here by this time. We can, therefore, regard the bet as won."
"Wait; don't let us be too hasty," replied Samuel Fallentin. "You know that Mr. Fogg is very eccentric. His punctuality is well known; he never arrives too soon, or too late; and I should not be surprised if he appeared before us at the last minute."
"Why," said Andrew Stuart nervously, "if I should see him, I should not believe it was he."
"The fact is," resumed Thomas Flanagan, "Mr. Fogg's project was absurdly foolish. Whatever his punctuality, he could not prevent the delays which were certain to occur; and a delay of only two or three days would be fatal to his tour."
"Observe, too," added John Sullivan, "that we have received no intelligence from him, though there are telegraphic lines all along is route."
"He has lost, gentleman," said Andrew Stuart, "he has a hundred times lost! You know, besides, that the China the only steamer he could have taken from New York to get here in time arrived yesterday. I have seen a list of the passengers, and the name of Phileas Fogg is not among them. Even if we admit that fortune has favoured him, he can scarcely have reached America. I think he will be at least twenty days behind–hand, and that Lord Albemarle will lose a cool five thousand."
"It is clear," replied Gauthier Ralph; "and we have nothing to do but to present Mr. Fogg's cheque at Barings to–morrow."
At this moment, the hands of the club clock pointed to twenty minutes to nine.
"Five minutes more," said Andrew Stuart.
The five gentlemen looked at each other. Their anxiety was becoming intense; but, not wishing to betray it, they readily assented to Mr. Fallentin's proposal of a rubber.
"I wouldn't give up my four thousand of the bet," said Andrew Stuart, as he took his seat, "for three thousand nine hundred and ninety–nine."
The clock indicated eighteen minutes to nine.
The players took up their cards, but could not keep their eyes off the clock. Certainly, however secure they felt, minutes had never seemed so long to them!
"Seventeen minutes to nine," said Thomas Flanagan, as he cut the cards which Ralph handed to him.
Then there was a moment of silence. The great saloon was perfectly quiet; but the murmurs of the crowd outside were heard, with now and then a shrill cry. The pendulum beat the seconds, which each player eagerly counted, as he listened, with mathematical regularity.
"Sixteen minutes to nine!" said John Sullivan, in a voice which betrayed his emotion.
One minute more, and the wager would be won. Andrew Stuart and his partners suspended their game. They left their cards, and counted the seconds.
At the fortieth second, nothing. At the fiftieth, still nothing.
At the fifty–fifth, a loud cry was heard in the street, followed by applause, hurrahs, and some fierce growls.
The players rose from their seats.
At the fifty–seventh second the door of the saloon opened; and the pendulum had not beat the sixtieth second when Phileas Fogg appeared, followed by an excited crowd who had forced their way through the club doors, and in his calm voice, said, "Here I am, gentlemen!"
背景介绍和作者介绍
这段文字出自儒勒·凡尔纳的经典冒险小说《八十天环游地球》，儒勒·凡尔纳是一位法国作家，以其在科幻和冒险文学领域的开创性作品而闻名。这部小说写于1873年，捕捉了19世纪的精神——一个技术快速进步和全球探索的时代。凡尔纳富有想象力的叙事和详细的描述使他的作品永恒，激励了一代又一代的读者去梦想遥远的地方和大胆的冒险。
详细解读和意义
故事围绕着福克先生展开，他是一位严谨而有条理的英国绅士，他打赌自己能在短短八十天内环游世界。这段摘录捕捉了故事的高潮，公众舆论发生了戏剧性的转变，因为福克的命运悬而未决。最初被怀疑犯有罪行，当真正的罪犯被抓获时，福克的荣誉和决心得到了恢复。紧张感随着时间的流逝而增加，直到赌注的最后一刻，最终以福克凯旋而归告终。
这一幕突出了毅力、守时以及人类意志战胜看似不可能的困难的主题。它也反映了维多利亚时代对进步、守时以及大英帝国不断扩张的痴迷。这个故事巧妙地将冒险与对社会规范的微妙批判以及对外观和声誉的重视结合起来。
给学生的启示和灵感
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毅力和决心： 福克先生的旅程教会了我们，即使面对挫折和怀疑，也要坚持自己的目标。学生们可以通过采取类似的思维方式来学习在学习和个人挑战中坚持不懈。
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时间管理和守时： 福克先生严格遵守他的时间表，这有力地说明了有效管理时间如何能带来成功。年轻的读者可以思考计划和守时如何帮助完成学业和日常责任。
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批判性思维和判断力： 公众对福克的摇摆不定的看法提醒我们不要根据不完整的信息妄下结论。学生们应该培养批判性思维能力，避免对他人仓促判断。
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冒险的勇气： 福克的赌注很大，也很有风险，但它促使他去探索世界并成长。这鼓励学生们走出舒适区，迎接促进学习和自我发现的挑战。
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社会和情感韧性： 尽管受到公众的怀疑和赌注的压力，福克仍然保持冷静和镇定。这教会了情感韧性以及在压力下保持镇定的价值。
将这些教训应用于日常生活
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在学习中： 学生们可以为他们的作业设定明确的目标和截止日期，就像福克计划他的旅程一样。将大任务分解成更小的步骤并坚持时间表可以提高学习成绩。
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在社交互动中： 了解不要过早评判他人的重要性有助于建立同情心和更好的关系。学生们可以练习倾听和收集事实，然后再形成自己的观点。
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在个人成长中： 承担有计划的风险，例如加入新的俱乐部或尝试新的爱好，可以拓宽视野并建立信心。
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在培养性格中： 效仿福克的冷静和决心可以帮助学生们以稳定的心态面对考试、比赛或个人挑战。
从故事中培养积极的特质
老师和家长可以鼓励孩子们：
- 通过设定个人目标来培养责任感。
- 通过创建日常作息来练习守时。
- 通过讨论克服障碍的故事来建立韧性。
- 通过阅读和探索来培养对世界的好奇心。
- 欣赏友谊和支持的价值，正如在福克的同伴身上看到的那样。
总而言之，《八十天环游地球》不仅仅是一次激动人心的冒险；它还是一个丰富的生命课程的来源，激励着年轻的读者去大胆梦想，努力工作，并以勇气和正直面对生活的挑战。
