Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in Eighty Days

“We’ll have no trunks; only a carpet-bag[42 - carpet-bag – саквояж], with two shirts and three pairs of stockings for me, and the same for you. We’ll buy our clothes on the way.”

Passepartout tried to reply, but was silent. He went out, mounted to his own room, and fell into a chair. Around the world in eighty days! Was his master a fool? No. Was this a joke, then?

Eight o’clock. Passepartout packed the carpet-bag, carefully shut the door of his room, and descended to Mr. Fogg. Mr. Fogg was quite ready.

“Didn’t you forget anything?” asked he.

“Nothing, monsieur.”

“Good! Take this carpet-bag. There are twenty thousand pounds in it.”

They then descended, and at the end of Saville Row they took a cab and drove rapidly to Charing Cross[43 - Charing Cross – Чаринг-Кросс]. The cab stopped before the railway station at twenty minutes past eight. Passepartout followed his master, who was ready to enter the station, when a poor beggar-woman, with a child in her arms, approached, and mournfully asked for alms.

Mr. Fogg took out the twenty guineas and handed them to the beggar,

“Here, my good woman. I’m glad that I met you.”

Passepartout saw it; his master’s action touched his susceptible heart. Mr. Fogg bought two first-class tickets for Paris, and then perceived his five friends of the Reform.

“Well, gentlemen,” said he, “I go, you see; and you will be able to examine my passport when I get back.

“Oh, that would be quite unnecessary, Mr. Fogg,” said Ralph politely. “We will trust your word.”

“You do not forget when you are in London again?” asked Stuart.

“In eighty days; on Saturday, the 21st of December, 1872, at a quarter before nine p.m. Good-bye, gentlemen.”

Phileas Fogg and his servant sat in a first-class carriage at twenty minutes before nine. Five minutes later the whistle screamed, and the train slowly glided out of the station.

Chapter V

Phileas Fogg did not suspect that his departure from London created a lively sensation at the West End[44 - West End – Уэст-Энд (западная часть Лондона)]. The news of the bet soon got into the papers throughout England. They talked, disputed, argued about his “tour of the world”. Many people shook their heads and declared against him.