Reading Help Around the world in eighty days Ch.I-VI
`
` Passepartout opened wide his eyes, raised his eyebrows, `
` held up his hands, and seemed about to collapse, `
` so overcome was he with stupefied astonishment. `
` `
` "Round the world!" he murmured. `
` `
` "In eighty days," responded Mr. Fogg. "So we haven't a moment to lose." `
` `
` "But the trunks?" gasped Passepartout, unconsciously swaying `
` his head from right to left. `
` `
` "We'll have no trunks; only a carpet-bag, with two shirts `
` and three pairs of stockings for me, and the same for you. `
` We'll buy our clothes on the way. Bring down my mackintosh `
` and traveling-cloak, and some stout shoes, though we shall `
` do little walking. Make haste!" `
` `
` Passepartout tried to reply, but could not. He went out, `
` mounted to his own room, fell into a chair, and muttered: `
` "That's good, that is! And I, who wanted to remain quiet!" `
` `
` He mechanically set about making the preparations for departure. `
` Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. `
` Was this a joke, then? They were going to Dover; good! `
` To Calais; good again! After all, Passepartout, who had `
` been away from France five years, would not be sorry `
` to set foot on his native soil again. Perhaps they would `
` go as far as Paris, and it would do his eyes good to see Paris once more. `
` But surely a gentleman so chary of his steps would stop there; no doubt-- `
` but, then, it was none the less true that he was going away, `
` this so domestic person hitherto! `
` `
` By eight o'clock Passepartout had packed the modest carpet-bag, `
` containing the wardrobes of his master and himself; then, `
` still troubled in mind, he carefully shut the door of his room, `
` and descended to Mr. Fogg. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg was quite ready. Under his arm might have been observed a red-bound `
` copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Steam Transit and General Guide, `
` with its timetables showing the arrival and departure of steamers and railways. `
` He took the carpet-bag, opened it, and slipped into it a goodly roll of `
` Bank of England notes, which would pass wherever he might go. `
` `
` "You have forgotten nothing?" asked he. `
` `
` "Nothing, monsieur." `
` `
` "My mackintosh and cloak?" `
` `
` "Here they are." `
` `
` "Good! Take this carpet-bag," handing it to Passepartout. `
` "Take good care of it, for there are twenty thousand pounds in it." `
` `
` Passepartout nearly dropped the bag, as if the twenty thousand pounds `
` were in gold, and weighed him down. `
` `
` Master and man then descended, the street-door was double-locked, `
` and at the end of Saville Row they took a cab and drove rapidly `
` to Charing Cross. The cab stopped before the railway station `
` at twenty minutes past eight. Passepartout jumped off the box `
` and followed his master, who, after paying the cabman, `
` was about to enter the station, when a poor beggar-woman, `
` with a child in her arms, her naked feet smeared with mud, `
` her head covered with a wretched bonnet, from which hung a tattered feather, `
` and her shoulders shrouded in a ragged shawl, approached, `
` and mournfully asked for alms. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg took out the twenty guineas he had just won at whist, `
` and handed them to the beggar, saying, "Here, my good woman. `
` I'm glad that I met you;" and passed on. `
` `
` Passepartout had a moist sensation about the eyes; `
` his master's action touched his susceptible heart. `
` `
` Two first-class tickets for Paris having been speedily purchased, `
` Mr. Fogg was crossing the station to the train, when he perceived `
` his five friends of the Reform. `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen," said he, "I'm off, you see; and, if you `
` will examine my passport when I get back, you will be able `
` to judge whether I have accomplished the journey agreed upon." `
` `
` "Oh, that would be quite unnecessary, Mr. Fogg," said Ralph politely. `
` "We will trust your word, as a gentleman of honour." `
` `
` "You do not forget when you are due in London again?" asked Stuart. `
` `
` "In eighty days; on Saturday, the 21st of December, 1872, `
` at a quarter before nine p.m. Good-bye, gentlemen." `
` `
` Phileas Fogg and his servant seated themselves in a first-class carriage `
` at twenty minutes before nine; five minutes later the whistle screamed, `
` and the train slowly glided out of the station. `
` `
` The night was dark, and a fine, steady rain was falling. `
` Phileas Fogg, snugly ensconced in his corner, did not open his lips. `
` Passepartout, not yet recovered from his stupefaction, `
` clung mechanically to the carpet-bag, with its enormous treasure. `
` `
` Just as the train was whirling through Sydenham, `
` Passepartout suddenly uttered a cry of despair. `
` `
` "What's the matter?" asked Mr. Fogg. `
` `
` "Alas! In my hurry--I--I forgot--" `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "To turn off the gas in my room!" `
` `
` "Very well, young man," returned Mr. Fogg, coolly; "it will burn-- `
` at your expense." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter V `
` `
` `
` IN WHICH A NEW SPECIES OF FUNDS, UNKNOWN TO THE MONEYED MEN, `
` APPEARS ON 'CHANGE `
` `
` `
` Phileas Fogg rightly suspected that his departure from London `
` would create a lively sensation at the West End. The news of the `
` bet spread through the Reform Club, and afforded an exciting topic `
` of conversation to its members. From the club it soon got into `
` the papers throughout England. The boasted "tour of the world" `
` was talked about, disputed, argued with as much warmth as if the `
` subject were another Alabama claim. Some took sides with Phileas `
` Fogg, but the large majority shook their heads and declared `
` against him; it was absurd, impossible, they declared, that the `
` tour of the world could be made, except theoretically and on paper, `
` in this minimum of time, and with the existing means of travelling. `
` The Times, Standard, Morning Post, and Daily News, and twenty other `
` highly respectable newspapers scouted Mr. Fogg's project as madness; `
` the Daily Telegraph alone hesitatingly supported him. People in general `
` thought him a lunatic, and blamed his Reform Club friends for having `
` accepted a wager which betrayed the mental aberration of its proposer. `
` `
` Articles no less passionate than logical appeared on the question, `
` for geography is one of the pet subjects of the English; `
` and the columns devoted to Phileas Fogg's venture were eagerly `
` devoured by all classes of readers. At first some rash individuals, `
` principally of the gentler sex, espoused his cause, which became `
` still more popular when the Illustrated London News came out `
` with his portrait, copied from a photograph in the Reform Club. `
` A few readers of the Daily Telegraph even dared to say, `
` "Why not, after all? Stranger things have come to pass." `
` `
` At last a long article appeared, on the 7th of October, in the bulletin `
` of the Royal Geographical Society, which treated the question from `
` every point of view, and demonstrated the utter folly of the enterprise. `
` `
` Everything, it said, was against the travellers, every obstacle imposed `
` alike by man and by nature. A miraculous agreement of the times of departure `
` and arrival, which was impossible, was absolutely necessary to his success. `
` He might, perhaps, reckon on the arrival of trains at the designated hours, `
` in Europe, where the distances were relatively moderate; but when `
` he calculated upon crossing India in three days, and the United States `
` in seven, could he rely beyond misgiving upon accomplishing his task? `
` There were accidents to machinery, the liability of trains to run off the line, `
` collisions, bad weather, the blocking up by snow--were not all these against `
` Phileas Fogg? Would he not find himself, when travelling by steamer in winter, `
` at the mercy of the winds and fogs? Is it uncommon for the best ocean steamers `
` to be two or three days behind time? But a single delay would suffice to `
` fatally break the chain of communication; should Phileas Fogg once miss, `
` even by an hour; a steamer, he would have to wait for the next, `
` and that would irrevocably render his attempt vain. `
` `
` This article made a great deal of noise, and, being copied into `
` all the papers, seriously depressed the advocates of the rash tourist. `
` `
` Everybody knows that England is the world of betting men, who are `
` of a higher class than mere gamblers; to bet is in the English temperament. `
` Not only the members of the Reform, but the general public, made heavy wagers `
` for or against Phileas Fogg, who was set down in the betting books as if `
` he were a race-horse. Bonds were issued, and made their appearance on 'Change; `
` "Phileas Fogg bonds" were offered at par or at a premium, and a great business `
` was done in them. But five days after the article in the bulletin of the `
` Geographical Society appeared, the demand began to subside: "Phileas Fogg" `
` declined. They were offered by packages, at first of five, then of ten, `
` until at last nobody would take less than twenty, fifty, a hundred! `
` `
` Lord Albemarle, an elderly paralytic gentleman, was now the only advocate `
` of Phileas Fogg left. This noble lord, who was fastened to his chair, `
` would have given his fortune to be able to make the tour of the world, `
` if it took ten years; and he bet five thousand pounds on Phileas Fogg. `
` When the folly as well as the uselessness of the adventure was pointed out `
` to him, he contented himself with replying, "If the thing is feasible, `
` the first to do it ought to be an Englishman." `
` `
` The Fogg party dwindled more and more, everybody was going against him, `
` and the bets stood a hundred and fifty and two hundred to one; `
` and a week after his departure an incident occurred which deprived him `
` of backers at any price. `
` `
` The commissioner of police was sitting in his office at nine o'clock `
`
` Passepartout opened wide his eyes, raised his eyebrows, `
` held up his hands, and seemed about to collapse, `
` so overcome was he with stupefied astonishment. `
` `
` "Round the world!" he murmured. `
` `
` "In eighty days," responded Mr. Fogg. "So we haven't a moment to lose." `
` `
` "But the trunks?" gasped Passepartout, unconsciously swaying `
` his head from right to left. `
` `
` "We'll have no trunks; only a carpet-bag, with two shirts `
` and three pairs of stockings for me, and the same for you. `
` We'll buy our clothes on the way. Bring down my mackintosh `
` and traveling-cloak, and some stout shoes, though we shall `
` do little walking. Make haste!" `
` `
` Passepartout tried to reply, but could not. He went out, `
` mounted to his own room, fell into a chair, and muttered: `
` "That's good, that is! And I, who wanted to remain quiet!" `
` `
` He mechanically set about making the preparations for departure. `
` Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. `
` Was this a joke, then? They were going to Dover; good! `
` To Calais; good again! After all, Passepartout, who had `
` been away from France five years, would not be sorry `
` to set foot on his native soil again. Perhaps they would `
` go as far as Paris, and it would do his eyes good to see Paris once more. `
` But surely a gentleman so chary of his steps would stop there; no doubt-- `
` but, then, it was none the less true that he was going away, `
` this so domestic person hitherto! `
` `
` By eight o'clock Passepartout had packed the modest carpet-bag, `
` containing the wardrobes of his master and himself; then, `
` still troubled in mind, he carefully shut the door of his room, `
` and descended to Mr. Fogg. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg was quite ready. Under his arm might have been observed a red-bound `
` copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Steam Transit and General Guide, `
` with its timetables showing the arrival and departure of steamers and railways. `
` He took the carpet-bag, opened it, and slipped into it a goodly roll of `
` Bank of England notes, which would pass wherever he might go. `
` `
` "You have forgotten nothing?" asked he. `
` `
` "Nothing, monsieur." `
` `
` "My mackintosh and cloak?" `
` `
` "Here they are." `
` `
` "Good! Take this carpet-bag," handing it to Passepartout. `
` "Take good care of it, for there are twenty thousand pounds in it." `
` `
` Passepartout nearly dropped the bag, as if the twenty thousand pounds `
` were in gold, and weighed him down. `
` `
` Master and man then descended, the street-door was double-locked, `
` and at the end of Saville Row they took a cab and drove rapidly `
` to Charing Cross. The cab stopped before the railway station `
` at twenty minutes past eight. Passepartout jumped off the box `
` and followed his master, who, after paying the cabman, `
` was about to enter the station, when a poor beggar-woman, `
` with a child in her arms, her naked feet smeared with mud, `
` her head covered with a wretched bonnet, from which hung a tattered feather, `
` and her shoulders shrouded in a ragged shawl, approached, `
` and mournfully asked for alms. `
` `
` Mr. Fogg took out the twenty guineas he had just won at whist, `
` and handed them to the beggar, saying, "Here, my good woman. `
` I'm glad that I met you;" and passed on. `
` `
` Passepartout had a moist sensation about the eyes; `
` his master's action touched his susceptible heart. `
` `
` Two first-class tickets for Paris having been speedily purchased, `
` Mr. Fogg was crossing the station to the train, when he perceived `
` his five friends of the Reform. `
` `
` "Well, gentlemen," said he, "I'm off, you see; and, if you `
` will examine my passport when I get back, you will be able `
` to judge whether I have accomplished the journey agreed upon." `
` `
` "Oh, that would be quite unnecessary, Mr. Fogg," said Ralph politely. `
` "We will trust your word, as a gentleman of honour." `
` `
` "You do not forget when you are due in London again?" asked Stuart. `
` `
` "In eighty days; on Saturday, the 21st of December, 1872, `
` at a quarter before nine p.m. Good-bye, gentlemen." `
` `
` Phileas Fogg and his servant seated themselves in a first-class carriage `
` at twenty minutes before nine; five minutes later the whistle screamed, `
` and the train slowly glided out of the station. `
` `
` The night was dark, and a fine, steady rain was falling. `
` Phileas Fogg, snugly ensconced in his corner, did not open his lips. `
` Passepartout, not yet recovered from his stupefaction, `
` clung mechanically to the carpet-bag, with its enormous treasure. `
` `
` Just as the train was whirling through Sydenham, `
` Passepartout suddenly uttered a cry of despair. `
` `
` "What's the matter?" asked Mr. Fogg. `
` `
` "Alas! In my hurry--I--I forgot--" `
` `
` "What?" `
` `
` "To turn off the gas in my room!" `
` `
` "Very well, young man," returned Mr. Fogg, coolly; "it will burn-- `
` at your expense." `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` Chapter V `
` `
` `
` IN WHICH A NEW SPECIES OF FUNDS, UNKNOWN TO THE MONEYED MEN, `
` APPEARS ON 'CHANGE `
` `
` `
` Phileas Fogg rightly suspected that his departure from London `
` would create a lively sensation at the West End. The news of the `
` bet spread through the Reform Club, and afforded an exciting topic `
` of conversation to its members. From the club it soon got into `
` the papers throughout England. The boasted "tour of the world" `
` was talked about, disputed, argued with as much warmth as if the `
` subject were another Alabama claim. Some took sides with Phileas `
` Fogg, but the large majority shook their heads and declared `
` against him; it was absurd, impossible, they declared, that the `
` tour of the world could be made, except theoretically and on paper, `
` in this minimum of time, and with the existing means of travelling. `
` The Times, Standard, Morning Post, and Daily News, and twenty other `
` highly respectable newspapers scouted Mr. Fogg's project as madness; `
` the Daily Telegraph alone hesitatingly supported him. People in general `
` thought him a lunatic, and blamed his Reform Club friends for having `
` accepted a wager which betrayed the mental aberration of its proposer. `
` `
` Articles no less passionate than logical appeared on the question, `
` for geography is one of the pet subjects of the English; `
` and the columns devoted to Phileas Fogg's venture were eagerly `
` devoured by all classes of readers. At first some rash individuals, `
` principally of the gentler sex, espoused his cause, which became `
` still more popular when the Illustrated London News came out `
` with his portrait, copied from a photograph in the Reform Club. `
` A few readers of the Daily Telegraph even dared to say, `
` "Why not, after all? Stranger things have come to pass." `
` `
` At last a long article appeared, on the 7th of October, in the bulletin `
` of the Royal Geographical Society, which treated the question from `
` every point of view, and demonstrated the utter folly of the enterprise. `
` `
` Everything, it said, was against the travellers, every obstacle imposed `
` alike by man and by nature. A miraculous agreement of the times of departure `
` and arrival, which was impossible, was absolutely necessary to his success. `
` He might, perhaps, reckon on the arrival of trains at the designated hours, `
` in Europe, where the distances were relatively moderate; but when `
` he calculated upon crossing India in three days, and the United States `
` in seven, could he rely beyond misgiving upon accomplishing his task? `
` There were accidents to machinery, the liability of trains to run off the line, `
` collisions, bad weather, the blocking up by snow--were not all these against `
` Phileas Fogg? Would he not find himself, when travelling by steamer in winter, `
` at the mercy of the winds and fogs? Is it uncommon for the best ocean steamers `
` to be two or three days behind time? But a single delay would suffice to `
` fatally break the chain of communication; should Phileas Fogg once miss, `
` even by an hour; a steamer, he would have to wait for the next, `
` and that would irrevocably render his attempt vain. `
` `
` This article made a great deal of noise, and, being copied into `
` all the papers, seriously depressed the advocates of the rash tourist. `
` `
` Everybody knows that England is the world of betting men, who are `
` of a higher class than mere gamblers; to bet is in the English temperament. `
` Not only the members of the Reform, but the general public, made heavy wagers `
` for or against Phileas Fogg, who was set down in the betting books as if `
` he were a race-horse. Bonds were issued, and made their appearance on 'Change; `
` "Phileas Fogg bonds" were offered at par or at a premium, and a great business `
` was done in them. But five days after the article in the bulletin of the `
` Geographical Society appeared, the demand began to subside: "Phileas Fogg" `
` declined. They were offered by packages, at first of five, then of ten, `
` until at last nobody would take less than twenty, fifty, a hundred! `
` `
` Lord Albemarle, an elderly paralytic gentleman, was now the only advocate `
` of Phileas Fogg left. This noble lord, who was fastened to his chair, `
` would have given his fortune to be able to make the tour of the world, `
` if it took ten years; and he bet five thousand pounds on Phileas Fogg. `
` When the folly as well as the uselessness of the adventure was pointed out `
` to him, he contented himself with replying, "If the thing is feasible, `
` the first to do it ought to be an Englishman." `
` `
` The Fogg party dwindled more and more, everybody was going against him, `
` and the bets stood a hundred and fifty and two hundred to one; `
` and a week after his departure an incident occurred which deprived him `
` of backers at any price. `
` `
` The commissioner of police was sitting in his office at nine o'clock `
`