Jules Verne - Around the World in Eighty Days

As may be supposed, this affair was the talk of all London and throughout England.

It was discussed, and sides were taken vehemently for or against the probabilities of success of the city police. It will not be surprising, then, to hear the members of the Reform Club treating the same subject, all the more that one of the Under-Governors of the Bank was among them.

Honourable Gauthier Ralph was not willing to doubt the result of the search, considering that the reward offered ought to sharpen peculiarly the zeal and intelligence of the agents. But his colleague, Andrew Stuart, was far from sharing this confidence. The discussion continued then between the gentlemen, who were seated at a whist table, Stuart having Flanagan as a partner, and Fallentin Phileas Fogg. During the playing the parties did not speak, but between the rubbers the interrupted conversation was fully revived.

“I maintain,” said Andrew Stuart, “that the chances are in favour of the robber, who must be a skilful fellow!”

“Well,” replied Ralph, “there is not a single country where he can take refuge.”

“Pshaw!”

“Where do you suppose he might go?”

“I don’t know about that,” replied Andrew Stuart, “but after all, the world is big enough.”

“It was formerly,” said Phileas Fogg in a low tone. Then he added: “It is your turn to cut, sir,” presenting the cards to Thomas Flanagan.

The discussion was suspended during the rubber. But Andrew Stuart soon resumed it, saying:

“How, formerly? Has the world grown smaller perchance?”

“Without doubt,” replied Gauthier Ralph. “I am of the opinion of Mr Fogg. The world has grown smaller, since we can go round it now ten times quicker than one hundred years ago. And, in the case with which we are now occupied, this is what will render the search more rapid.”

“And will render more easy, also, the flight of the robber.”

“It is your turn to play, Mr Stuart,” said Phileas Fogg.

But the incredulous Stuart was not convinced, and when the hand was finished, he replied: “It must be confessed, Mr Ralph, that you have found a funny way of saying that the world has grown smaller! Because the tour of it is now made in three months—”

“In eighty days only,” said Phileas Fogg.

“Yes, gentlemen,” added John Sullivan, “eighty days, since the section between Rothal and Allahabad, on the Great Indian Peninsular Railway, has been opened. Here is the calculation made by the Morning Chronicle:

“Yes, eighty days!” exclaimed Andrew Stuart, who, by inattention, made a wrong deal, “but not including bad weather, contrary winds, shipwrecks, running off the track, etc.”

“Everything included,” replied Phileas Fogg, continuing to play, for this time the discussion no longer respected the game.

“Even if the Hindus or the Indians tear up the rails!” exclaimed Andrew Stuart, “if they stop the trains, plunder the cars, and scalp the passengers!”

“All included,” replied Phileas Fogg, who, throwing down his cards, added: “Two trumps.”

Andrew Stuart, whose turn it was to deal, gathered up the cards, saying:

“Theoretically, you are right, Mr Fogg, but practically—”

“Practically also, Mr Stuart.”

“I would like very much to see you do it.”

“It depends only upon you. Let us start together.”

“Heaven preserve me!” exclaimed Stuart, “but I would willingly wager four thousand pounds that such a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible.”

“On the contrary, quite possible,” replied Mr Fogg.

“Well, make it, then!”

“The tour of the world in eighty days?”

“Yes!”

“I am willing.”

“When?”

“At once. Only I warn you that I shall do it at your expense.”

“It is folly!” cried Stuart, who was beginning to be vexed at the persistence of his partner. “Stop! let us play rather.”

“Deal again, then,” replied Phileas Fogg, “for there is a false deal.”

Andrew Stuart took up the cards again with a feverish hand; then suddenly, placing them upon the table, he said:

“Well, Mr Fogg, yes, and I bet four thousand pounds!”

“My dear Stuart,” said Fallentin, “compose yourself. It is not serious.”

“When I say—‘I bet,’” replied Andrew Stuart, “it is always serious.”

“So be it,” said Mr Fogg, and then, turning to his companions, continued: “I have twenty thousand pounds deposited at Baring Brothers. I will willingly risk them—”

“Twenty thousand pounds!” cried John Sullivan. “Twenty thousand pounds, which an unforeseen delay may make you lose.”

“The unforeseen does not exist,” replied Phileas Fogg quietly.

“But, Mr Fogg, this period of eighty days is calculated only as a minimum of time?”

“A minimum well employed suffices for everything.”

“But in order not to exceed it, you must jump mathematically from the trains into the steamers, and from the steamers upon the trains!”

“I will jump mathematically.”

“That is a joke.”

“A good Englishman never jokes when so serious a matter as a wager is in question,” replied Phileas Fogg. “I bet twenty thousand pounds against who will that I will make the tour of the world in eighty days or less—that is, nineteen hundred and twenty hours, or one hundred and fifteen thousand two hundred minutes. Do you accept?”

“We accept,” replied Messrs. Stuart, Fallentin, Sullivan, Flanagan, and Ralph, after having consulted.

“Very well,” said Mr Fogg. “The Dover train starts at eight forty-five. I shall take it.”

“This very evening?” asked Stuart.

“This very evening,” replied Phileas Fogg. Then he added, consulting a pocket almanac, “since to-day is Wednesday, the second of October, I ought to be back in London, in this very saloon of the Reform Club, on Saturday, the twenty-first of December, at eight forty-five in the evening, in default of which the twenty thousand pounds at present deposited to my credit with Baring Brothers will belong to you, gentlemen, in fact and by right. Here is a cheque of like amount.”

A memorandum of the wager was made and signed on the spot by the six parties in interest. Phileas Fogg had remained cool. He had certainly not bet to win, and had risked only these twenty thousand pounds—the half of his fortune—because he foresaw that he might have to expend the other half to carry out this difficult, not to say impracticable, project. As for his opponents, they seemed affected, not on account of the stake, but because they had a sort of scruple against a contest under these conditions.

Seven o’clock then struck. They offered to Mr Fogg to stop playing, so that he could make his preparations for departure.

“I am always ready,” replied this tranquil gentleman, and dealing the cards, he said: “Diamonds are trumps. It is your turn to play, Mr Stuart.”

In which Phileas Fogg surprises

Passepartout, his Servant, beyond measure

At twenty-five minutes after seven, Phileas Fogg having gained twenty guineas at whist, took leave of his honourable colleagues, and left the Reform Club. At ten minutes of eight, he opened the door of his house and entered.