d. He had only
received his deserts. Mr. Fogg, Aouda, and Passe-partout immediately
quitted the Custom House, jumped into a cab, and drove to the
railway-station.

Mr. Fogg inquired when there would be a train for London. It was 2.40;
the train had left five-and-thirty minutes before. Mr. Fogg ordered a
"special."

There were plenty of engines capable of running at a high speed, but
the train could not be got in readiness before three. At that hour Mr.
Fogg having said a few words to the engine-driver respecting a certain
"tip," was rushing up to London, accompanied by Mrs. Aouda and his
faithful Passe-partout.

The distance was accomplished in five hours and a half, a very easy
thing when the line is clear, but there were some unavoidable delays,
and when the special arrived in London the clock pointed to ten
minutes to nine.

Thus Phileas Fogg, having accomplished his journey round the world,
had returned five minutes too late!

He had lost his wager.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Passe-partout obeys Orders quickly.

The inhabitants of Saville Row would have been astonished, next day,
if they had been told that Mr. Fogg had returned, for the doors and
windows of his house were still shut, and there was no change visible
exteriorly.

When he left the railway-station, Mr. Fogg had told Passe-partout to
purchase some provisions, and then he quietly went home.

Mr. Fogg preserved his usual impassibility under the trying
circumstances; he was ruined, and all through the fault of that
blundering detective. After having achieved his long journey, overcome
a thousand obstacles, braved a thousand dangers, and even found time
to do some good on the way, to fail at the very moment that success
was certain was indeed terrible. A very small portion remained to him
of the large sum he had taken away with him; his whole fortune was
comprised in the twenty thousand pounds deposited at Baring's, and
that sum he owed to his colleagues at the club. After having paid all
expenses, even had he won he would have been none the richer, and it
is not likely he wished to be richer, for he was one of those men who
bet for reputation; but this wager would ruin his altogether. However,
he had fully made up his mind what to do.

A room had been set aside for Aouda, who felt Mr. Fogg's ruin very
deeply. From certain words she had heard she understood he was
meditating some serious measures. Knowing that Englishmen of an
eccentric tur