e Morning Chronicle_ put
it, that the thief did not belong to a gang, for during the 29th of
September a well-dressed gentlemanly man had been observed in the
bank, near where the robbery had been perpetrated. An exact
description of this person was fortunately obtained, and supplied to
all the detectives; and so some sanguine persons, of whom Ralph was
one, believed the thief could not escape.

As may be imagined, nothing else was talked about just then. The
probabilities of success and failure were warmly discussed in the
newspapers, so it was not surprising that the members of the Reform
Club should talk about it, particularly as one of the deputy-governors
of the bank was present.

Ralph did not doubt that the search would be successful because of the
amount of the reward, which would probably stimulate the zeal of the
detectives. But Andrew Stuart was of a different opinion, and the
discussion was continued between these gentlemen during their game of
whist. Stuart was Flanagan's partner, and Fallentin was Fogg's. While
they played they did not talk; but between the rubbers the subject
cropped up again.

"Well," said Stuart, "I maintain that the chances are in favour of the
thief, who must be a sharp one."

"But," replied Ralph, "there is no place a fellow can go to."

"Oh, come!"

"Well, where can he go to?"

"I can't tell," replied Stuart; "but the world is big enough, at any
rate."

"It used to be," said Phileas Fogg, in an undertone. "Cut, if you
please," he added, handing the cards to Flanagan.

Conversation was then suspended, but after the rubber Stuart took it
up again, saying:

"What do you mean by 'used to be?' Has the world grown smaller, then?"

"Of course it has," replied Ralph. "I am of Mr. Fogg's opinion; the
world has grown smaller, inasmuch as one can go round it ten times
quicker than you could a hundred years ago. That is the reason why, in
the present case, search will be more rapid, and render the escape of
the thief easier."

"Your lead, Mr. Stuart," said Fogg.

But the incredulous Stuart was not convinced, and he again returned to
the subject.

"I must say, Mr. Ralph," he continued, "that you have found an easy
way that the world has grown smaller, because one now go round it in
three months."

"In eighty days only," said Phileas Fogg.

"That is a fact, gentlemen," added John Sullivan. "You can make the
tour of the world in eighty days, now that the section of the Great