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.

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