Chapter 36
In Which Phileas Fogg's Name Is Once Moreat a Premium on the Market
It is time to relate what a change took place in English publicopinion when it transpired that the real bankrobber, a certainJames Strand, had been arrested, on the 17th day of December, atEdinburgh. Three days before, Phileas Fogg had been a criminal,who was being desperately followed up by the police. Now he wasan honorable gentleman, mathematically pursuing his eccentricjourney round the world.
The papers resumed their discussion about the wager. All thosewho had laid bets, for or against him, revived their interest. Asif by magic; the "Phileas Fogg bonds" again became negotiable,and many new wagers were made. Phileas Fogg's name was once moreat a premium on 'Change.
His five friends of the Reform Club passed these three days in astate of feverish suspense. Would Phileas Fogg, whom they hadforgotten, reappear before their eyes! Where was he at thismoment? The 17th of December, the day of James Strand's arrest,was the seventy-sixth since Phileas Fogg's departure, and no newsof him had been received. Was he dead? Had he abandoned theeffort, or was he continuing his journey along the route agreedupon? And would he appear on Saturday, the 21st of December, at aquarter before nine in the evening, on the threshold of theReform Club saloon?
The anxiety in which, for three days, London society existed,cannot be described. Telegrams were sent to America and Asia fornews of Phileas Fogg. Messengers were despatched to the house inSaville Row morning and evening. No news. The police wereignorant what had become of the detective, Fix, who had sounfortunately followed up a false scent. Bets increased,nevertheless, in number and value. Phileas Fogg, like aracehorse, was drawing near his last turning-point. The bondswere quoted, no longer at a hundred below par, but at twenty, atten, and at five; and paralytic old Lord Albemarle bet even inhis favor.
A great crowd was collected in Pall Mall and the neighboringstreets on Saturday evening. It seemed like a multitude ofbrokers permanently established around the Reform Club.Circulation was impeded, and everywhere disputes, discussions andfinancial transactions were going on. The police had greatdifficulty in keeping back the crowd, and as the hour whenPhileas Fogg was due approached, the excitement rose to itshighest pitch.
The five antagonists of Phileas Fogg had met in the great saloonof the club. John Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin, the bankers,Andrew Stuart, the engineer, Gauthier Ralph, the director of theBank of England and Thomas Flanagan, the brewer, one and allwaited anxiously.
When the clock indicated twenty minutes past eight, Andrew Stuartgot up, saying, "Gentlemen, in twenty minutes the time agreedupon between Mr. Fogg and ourselves will have expired."
"What time did the last train arrive from Liverpool?" askedThomas Flanagan.
"At twenty-three minutes past seven," replied Gauthier Ralph."The next does not arrive till ten minutes after twelve."
"Well, gentlemen," resumed Andrew Stuart, "if Phileas Fogg hadcome in the 7:23 train, he would have got here by this time. Wecan, therefore, regard the bet as won."
"Wait, don't let us be too hasty," replied Samuel Fallentin. "Youknow that Mr. Fogg is very eccentric. His punctuality is wellknown. He never arrives too soon, or too late; and I should notbe surprised if he appeared before us at the last minute."
"Why," said Andrew Stuart nervously, "if I should see him, Ishould not believe it was he."
"The fact is," resumed Thomas Flanagan, "Mr. Fogg's project wasabsurdly foolish. Whatever his punctuality, he could not preventthe delays which were certain to occur; and a delay of only twoor three days would be fatal to his tour."
"Observe, too," added John Sullivan, "that we have received nointelligence from him, though there are telegraphic lines allalong his route."
"He has lost, gentlemen," said Andrew Stuart, "he has a hundredtimes lost! You know, besides, that the China--the only steamerhe could have taken from New York to get here in time--arrivedyesterday. I have seen a list of the passengers, and the name ofPhileas Fogg is not among them. Even if we admit that fortune hasfavored him, he can scarcely have reached America. I think hewill be at least twenty days behind-hand, and that LordAlbemarle will lose a cool five thousand."
"It is clear," replied Gauthier Ralph; "and we have nothing to dobut to present Mr. Fogg's cheque at Barings tomorrow."
At this moment, the hands of the club clock pointed to twentyminutes to nine.
"Five minutes more," said Andrew Stuart.
The five gentlemen looked at each other. Their anxiety wasbecoming intense; but, not wishing to betray it, they readilyassented to Mr. Fallentin's proposal of a rubber.
"I wouldn't give up my four thousand of the bet," said AndrewStuart, as he took his seat, "for three thousand nine hundred andninety-nine."
The clock indicated eighteen minutes to nine.
The players took up their cards, but could not keep their eyesoff the clock. Certainly, however secure they felt, minutes hadnever seemed so long to them!
"Seventeen minutes to nine," said Thomas Flanagan, as he cut thecards which Ralph handed to him.
Then there was a moment of silence. The great saloon wasperfectly quiet; but the murmurs of the crowd outside were heard,with now and then a shrill cry. The pendulum beat the seconds,which each player eagerly counted, as he listened, withmathematical regularity.
"Sixteen minutes to nine!" said John Sullivan, in a voice whichbetrayed his emotion.
One minute more, and the wager would be won. Andrew Stuart andhis partners suspended their game. They left their cards, andcounted the seconds.
At the fortieth second, nothing. At the fiftieth, still nothing.At the fifty-fifth, a loud cry was heard in the street, followedby applause, hurrahs and some fierce growls.
The players rose from their seats.
At the fifty-seventh second the door of the saloon opened. Thependulum had not beat the sixtieth second when Phileas Foggappeared, followed by an excited crowd who had forced their waythrough the club doors. In his calm voice, Phileas Fogg said,"Here I am, gentlemen!"