Round the World in Eighty Days. Jules Verne

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СКАЧАТЬ "Two trumps," he added, as he won the tricks.

      Stuart, who was "pony," collected the cards, and said: "No doubt you are right in theory, Mr. Fogg, but in practice—"

      "In practice too, Mr. Stuart."

      "I should like to see you do it."

      "It only rests with you. Let us go together."

      "Heaven forbid," cried Stuart; "but I will bet you a cool four thousand that such a journey, under such conditions, is impossible."

      "On the contrary, it is quite possible," replied Mr. Fogg.

      "Well, then, why don't you do it?"

      "Go round the world in eighty days, do you mean?"

      "Yes."

      "I will."

      "When?"

      "At once; only I give you warning I shall do it at your expense."

      "Oh, this is all nonsense," replied Stuart, who began to feel a little vexed at Fogg's persistence; "let us continue the game."

      "You had better deal, then; that was a mis-deal."

      Andrew Stuart took up the cards, and suddenly put them down again.

      "Look here, Mr. Fogg," he said; "if you like, I will bet you four thousand."

      "My dear Stuart," said Fallentin, "don't be ridiculous; it is only a joke."

      "When I say I will bet," said Stuart, "I mean it."

      "All right," said Mr. Fogg; then, turning towards the others, he said: "I have twenty thousand pounds deposited at Baring's. I will willingly risk that sum."

      "Twenty thousand pounds!" exclaimed Sullivan; "why, the slightest accident might cause you to lose the whole of it. Anything unforeseen—"

      "The unforeseen does not exist," replied Fogg simply.

      "But, Mr. Fogg, this estimate of eighty days is the very least time in which the journey can be accomplished."

      "A minimum well employed is quite sufficient."

      "But to succeed you must pass from railways to steamers, from steamers to railways, with mathematical accuracy."

      "I will be mathematically accurate."

      "Oh, this is a joke!"

      "A true Englishman never jokes when he has a stake depending on the matter. I bet twenty thousand against any of you that I will make the tour of the world in eighty days or less; that is to say, in nineteen hundred and twenty hours, or a hundred and fifteen thousand two hundred minutes. Will you take me?"

      "We do," replied the others, after consultation together.

      "Very well, then," said Fogg, "the Dover mail starts at 8.45; I will go by it."

      "This evening?" said Stuart.

      "Yes, this evening," replied Fogg. Then, referring to a pocket almanack, he added: "This is Wednesday, the 2nd of October; I shall be due in London, in this room, on Saturday, the 21st of December, at a quarter to nine in the evening, or, in default, the twenty thousand at Baring's, to my credit, will be yours, gentlemen. Here is my cheque for that sum."

      A memorandum of the conditions of the bet was made and signed by all parties concerned. Phileas Fogg was as cool as ever. He had certainly not bet to win the money, and he had only bet twenty thousand pounds, half of his fortune, because he foresaw that he would probably have to spend the other half to enable him to carry out this difficult if not actually impossible feat. His opponents appeared quite agitated, not on account of the value of their stake, but because they had some misgivings and scruples about betting under such conditions.

      Seven o'clock struck, and it was suggested that the game should stop, while Mr. Fogg made his preparations for the journey.

      "I am always ready," replied this impassible gentleman, as he dealt the cards. "Diamonds are trumps," he added; "your lead, Mr. Stuart."

CHAPTER IV.

       Table of Contents

      In which Phileas Fogg astonishes Passe-partout.

      At twenty-five minutes past seven, Phileas Fogg, having won twenty guineas at whist, took leave of his friends and left the club. At ten minutes to eight he reached home.

      Passe-partout, who had conscientiously studied his programme, was astonished to see Mr. Fogg appear at such an unusual hour, for, according to all precedent, he was not due in Saville Row till midnight.

      Phileas Fogg went straight up to his room and called for

       Passe-partout.

      Passe-partout did not reply. It was evident this could not refer to him, it was not time.

      "Passe-partout," cried Mr. Fogg again, but without raising his voice; "this is the second time I have called you," said Mr. Fogg.

      "But it is not midnight," replied Passe-partout, producing his watch.

      "I know that," replied Fogg, "and I do not blame you. We start for

       Dover and Calais in ten minutes."

      A sort of grimace contracted the Frenchman's round face; he evidently did not understand.

      "Are you going out, sir," he asked.

      "Yes," replied his master; "we are going around the world."

      Passe-partout at this announcement opened his eyes to their greatest extent, held up his arms, and looked the picture of stupefied astonishment.

      "Around the world!" he muttered.

      "In eighty days," replied Mr. Fogg; "so we have not a moment to lose."

      "But the luggage," said Passe-partout, who was wagging his head unconsciously from side to side.

      "We want no luggage; a carpet-bag will do. Pack up two night-shirts and three pairs of socks, and the same for yourself. We will buy what we want as we go along. Bring my mackintosh and travelling-cloak down with you, and a couple of pairs of strong boots, although we shall have little or no walking. Look alive."

      Passe-partout wished to speak, but could not He left his master's bedroom, and went upstairs to his own, fell into a chair, and exclaimed:

      "Well, this is coming it pretty strong, and for me too, who wanted to be quiet!"

      Mechanically he set about making preparations for departure. Around the world in eighty days! Had he engaged himself with a maniac? No—it was only a joke. But they were going to Dover and to Calais. So far so good. After all, he did not object to that very much, for it was five years since СКАЧАТЬ