by Verne, Jules, 1828-1905
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Did escape occur to him ? Did he examine to see if there were any practicable outlet from his prison } Did he think of escaping from it ? Possibly ; for once he walked slowly around the room. But the door was locked, and the window heavily barred with iron rods. He sat down again, and drew his journal from his pocket. On the line where these words were written, ''December 21st, Saturday, Liverpool," he added, "80th day, 11.40 A.M.," and waited.
The Custom House clock struck one. Mr. Fogg observed that his watch was two hours too fast.
Two hours! Admitting that he was at this moment taking an express train, he could reach London and the Reform Club by a quarter before nine, P.M. His forehead slightly wrinkled.
At thirty-three minutes past two he heard a singular
noise outside, then a hasty opening of doors. Passepartout's voice was audible, and immediately after that of Fix. Phileas Fogg's eyes brightened for an instant.
The door swung open, and he saw Passepartout, Aouda, and Fix, who hurried towards him.
Fix was out of breath, and his hair was in disorder. He could not speak. ^'Sir," he stammered, "sir?forgive me ?a most?unfortunate resemblance?robber arrested three days ago?you?are free !"
Phileas Fogg was free! He walked to the detective, looked him steadily in the face, and with the only rapid motion he had ever made in his life, or which he ever would make, drew back his arms, and with the precision of a machine, knocked Fix down.
"Well hit!" cried Passepartout. " Parbleu ! that's what you might call a good application of English fists!"
Fix, who found himself on the floor, did not utter a word. He had only received his deserts. Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passepartout left the Custom House without delay, got into a cab, and in a few moments descended at the station.
Phileas Fcgg asked if there was an express train about to leave for London. It was forty minutes past two. The express train had left thirty-five minutes before.
Phileas Fogg then ordered a special train.
There were several rapid locomotives on hand ; but the railway arrangements did not permit the special train to leave until three o'clock.
At that hour Phileas Fogg, having stimulated the engineer by the offer of a generous reward, at last set out towards London with Aouda and his faithful servant.
It was necessary to make the journey in five hours and a half; and this would have been easy on a clear road throughout. But there wxre forced delays, and when Mr. Fogg stepped from the train at the terminus, all the clocks in London were striking ten minutes before nine.^
Having made the tour of the world, he was behindhand five minutes. He had lost the wager !
1 A somewhat remarkable eccentricity on the part of the London clocks!? Translator.
HE HAD FOUND A BILL FEOH THE G
AS COMPANY.
[Page 29S.
CHAPTER XXXV.
IN WHICH PHILEAS FOGG DOES NOT HAVE TO REPEAT HIS ORDERS TO PASSEPARTOUT TWICE.
The dwellers in Saville Row would have been surprised, the next day, if they had been told that Phileas Fogg had returned home. His doors and windows were still closed ; no appearance of change was visible.
After leaving the station, Mr. Fogg gave Passepartout instructions to purchase some provisions, and quietly went to his domicile.
He bore his misfortune with his habitual tranquillity. Ruined ! And by the blundering of the detective ! After having steadily traversed that long journey, overcome a hundred obstacles, braved many dangers, and still found time to do some good on his way, to fail near the goal by a sudden event which he could not have foreseen, and against Avhich he was unarmed ; it was terrible! But a few pounds were left of the large sum he had carried
with him. There onl}' remained of his fortune the twenty thousand pounds deposited at Barings, and this amount he owed to his friends of the Reform Chib. So great had been the expense of his tour, that, even had he won, it would not have enriched him ; and it is probable that he had not sought to enrich himself, being a man who rather \aid wagers for honour's sake than for the stake proposed. But this wager totally ruined him.
Mr. Fogg's course, however, was fully decided upon ; he knew what remained for him to do.
