Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/191

Rh out of Passepartout's hands, as if the twenty thousand pounds had been in gold and weighed very heavy.

The master and servant then descended and the street door was double locked. At the end of Saville Row there was a carriage stand. Phileas Fogg and his servant got into a cab which was rapidly driven towards Charing Cross station, at which one of the branches of the Southeastern Railway touches. At twenty minutes after eight the cab stopped before the gate of the station. Passepartout jumped out. His master followed him and paid the driver. At this moment a poor beggar woman, holding a child in her arms, her bare feet all muddy, her head covered with a wretched bonnet from which hung a tattered feather, and a ragged shawl over her other torn garments, approached Mr. Fogg, and asked him for help.

Mr. Fogg drew from his pocket the twenty guineas which he had just won at whist, and giving them to the woman, said, "Here, my good woman, I'm glad to have met you." Then he passed on.

Passepartout had something like a sensation of moisture about his eyes. His master had made an impression upon his heart.

Mr. Fogg and he went immediately into the large sitting-room of the station. There Phileas Fogg gave Passepartout the order to get two first-class tickets for Paris. Then returning, he noticed his five colleagues of the Reform Club.

"Gentlemen, I am going," he said, "and the various vises put upon a passport which I take for that purpose will enable you, on my return, to verify my journey."

"Oh! Mr. Fogg," replied Gauthier Ralph, "that is useless. We will depend upon your honor as a gentleman!"

"It is better so," said Mr. Fogg.

"You do not forget that you ought to be back?" remarked Andrew Stuart.

"In eighty days," replied Mr. Fogg. Saturday, December 21, 1872, at a quarter before nine Au revoir, gentlemen."

At forty minutes after eight, Phileas Fogg and his servant took their seats in the same compartment. At eight forty-five the whistle sounded, and the train started.

The night was dark. A fine rain was falling. Phileas