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"Where could he go, then?" `
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"Oh, I don't know that. The world is big enough." `
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"It was once," said Phileas Fogg, in a low tone. "Cut, sir," `
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he added, handing the cards to Thomas Flanagan. `
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The discussion fell during the rubber, after which Stuart took up its thread. `
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"What do you mean by `once'? Has the world grown smaller?" `
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"Certainly," returned Ralph. "I agree with Mr. Fogg. The world `
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has grown smaller, since a man can now go round it ten times more quickly `
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than a hundred years ago. And that is why the search for this thief `
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will be more likely to succeed." `
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"And also why the thief can get away more easily." `
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"Be so good as to play, Mr. Stuart," said Phileas Fogg. `
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But the incredulous Stuart was not convinced, and when the `
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hand was finished, said eagerly: "You have a strange way, Ralph, `
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of proving that the world has grown smaller. So, because you `
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can go round it in three months--" `
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"In eighty days," interrupted Phileas Fogg. `
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"That is true, gentlemen," added John Sullivan. "Only eighty days, `
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now that the section between Rothal and Allahabad, on the `
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Great Indian Peninsula Railway, has been opened. `
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Here is the estimate made by the Daily Telegraph: `
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From London to Suez via Mont Cenis and `
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Brindisi, by rail and steamboats ................. 7 days `
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From Suez to Bombay, by steamer .................... 13 " `
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From Bombay to Calcutta, by rail ................... 3 " `
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From Calcutta to Hong Kong, by steamer ............. 13 " `
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From Hong Kong to Yokohama (Japan), by steamer ..... 6 " `
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From Yokohama to San Francisco, by steamer ......... 22 " `
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From San Francisco to New York, by rail ............. 7 " `
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From New York to London, by steamer and rail ........ 9 " `
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---- `
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Total ............................................ 80 days." `
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"Yes, in eighty days!" exclaimed Stuart, who in his excitement `
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made a false deal. "But that doesn't take into account bad weather, `
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contrary winds, shipwrecks, railway accidents, and so on." `
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"All included," returned Phileas Fogg, continuing to play `
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despite the discussion. `
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"But suppose the Hindoos or Indians pull up the rails," `
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replied Stuart; "suppose they stop the trains, pillage `
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the luggage-vans, and scalp the passengers!" `
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"All included," calmly retorted Fogg; adding, as he threw down the cards, `
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"Two trumps." `
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Stuart, whose turn it was to deal, gathered them up, and went on: `
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"You are right, theoretically, Mr. Fogg, but practically--" `
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"Practically also, Mr. Stuart." `
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"I'd like to see you do it in eighty days." `
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"It depends on you. Shall we go?" `
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"Heaven preserve me! But I would wager four thousand pounds `
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that such a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible." `
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"Quite possible, on the contrary," returned Mr. Fogg. `
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"Well, make it, then!" `
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"The journey round the world in eighty days?" `
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"Yes." `
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"I should like nothing better." `
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"When?" `
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"At once. Only I warn you that I shall do it at your expense." `
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"It's absurd!" cried Stuart, who was beginning to be annoyed at `
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the persistency of his friend. "Come, let's go on with the game." `
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"Deal over again, then," said Phileas Fogg. "There's a false deal." `
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Stuart took up the pack with a feverish hand; then suddenly `
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put them down again. `
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"Well, Mr. Fogg," said he, "it shall be so: I will wager `
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the four thousand on it." `
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"Calm yourself, my dear Stuart," said Fallentin. "It's only a joke." `
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"When I say I'll wager," returned Stuart, "I mean it." "All right," `
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said Mr. Fogg; and, turning to the others, he continued: `
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"I have a deposit of twenty thousand at Baring's which `
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I will willingly risk upon it." `
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"Twenty thousand pounds!" cried Sullivan. "Twenty thousand pounds, `
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which you would lose by a single accidental delay!" `
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"The unforeseen does not exist," quietly replied Phileas Fogg. `
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"But, Mr. Fogg, eighty days are only the estimate of the least possible `
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time in which the journey can be made." `
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"A well-used minimum suffices for everything." `
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"But, in order not to exceed it, you must jump mathematically `
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from the trains upon the steamers, and from the steamers upon `
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the trains again." `
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"I will jump--mathematically." `
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"You are joking." `
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"A true Englishman doesn't joke when he is talking about so `
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serious a thing as a wager," replied Phileas Fogg, solemnly. `
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"I will bet twenty thousand pounds against anyone who wishes `
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that I will make the tour of the world in eighty days or less; `
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in nineteen hundred and twenty hours, or a hundred and fifteen `
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thousand two hundred minutes. Do you accept?" `
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"We accept," replied Messrs. Stuart, Fallentin, Sullivan, `
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Flanagan, and Ralph, after consulting each other. `
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"Good," said Mr. Fogg. "The train leaves for Dover at a `
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quarter before nine. I will take it." `
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"This very evening?" asked Stuart. `
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"This very evening," returned Phileas Fogg. He took out and `
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consulted a pocket almanac, and added, "As today is Wednesday, `
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the 2nd of October, I shall be due in London in this very room of `
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the Reform Club, on Saturday, the 21st of December, at a quarter `
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before nine p.m.; or else the twenty thousand pounds, `
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now deposited in my name at Baring's, will belong to you, `
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in fact and in right, gentlemen. Here is a cheque for the amount." `
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A memorandum of the wager was at once drawn up and signed by `
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the six parties, during which Phileas Fogg preserved a stoical `
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composure. He certainly did not bet to win, and had only staked `
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the twenty thousand pounds, half of his fortune, because he `
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foresaw that he might have to expend the other half to carry out `
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this difficult, not to say unattainable, project. As for his `
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antagonists, they seemed much agitated; not so much by the value `
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of their stake, as because they had some scruples about betting `
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under conditions so difficult to their friend. `
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The clock struck seven, and the party offered to suspend the `
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game so that Mr. Fogg might make his preparations for departure. `
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"I am quite ready now," was his tranquil response. "Diamonds are trumps: `
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be so good as to play, gentlemen." `
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Chapter IV `
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IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG ASTOUNDS PASSEPARTOUT, HIS SERVANT `
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Having won twenty guineas at whist, and taken leave of his friends, `
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Phileas Fogg, at twenty-five minutes past seven, left the Reform Club. `
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Passepartout, who had conscientiously studied the programme of his duties, `
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was more than surprised to see his master guilty of the inexactness `
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of appearing at this unaccustomed hour; for, according to rule, `
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he was not due in Saville Row until precisely midnight. `
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Mr. Fogg repaired to his bedroom, and called out, "Passepartout!" `
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Passepartout did not reply. It could not be he who was called; `
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it was not the right hour. `
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"Passepartout!" repeated Mr. Fogg, without raising his voice. `
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Passepartout made his appearance. `
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"I've called you twice," observed his master. `
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"But it is not midnight," responded the other, showing his watch. `
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"I know it; I don't blame you. We start for Dover and Calais `
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in ten minutes." `
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A puzzled grin overspread Passepartout's round face; `
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clearly he had not comprehended his master. `
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"Monsieur is going to leave home?" `
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"Yes," returned Phileas Fogg. "We are going round the world." `
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