chanically
gripped the bag with the bank-notes.

But scarcely had the train rushed through Sydenham, than Passe-partout
uttered a cry of despair.

"What is the matter with you?" asked Mr. Fogg.

"Oh dear me! In my hurry I quite forgot--"

"What?"

"I forgot to turn the gas off in my room!"

"Very well, my lad," replied Mr. Fogg coolly, "then it must burn while
we are away--at your expense."

CHAPTER V.

In which a New Kind of Investment appears on the Stock Exchange.

When Phileas Fogg quitted London, he had no doubt that his departure
would create a great sensation. The report of the bet spread from the
club to outsiders, and so to all the newspapers in the United Kingdom.

This question of going round the world in eighty days was commented
upon, discussed, and dissected, and argued as much as the Alabama
Claims had been. Some agreed with Phileas Fogg, but the majority were
against him. To accomplish the tour in fact was an impossibility,
under the present system of communication. It was sheer madness.

_The Times_, _The Standard_, _The Morning Chronicle_, and twenty other
respectable journals gave their verdict against Mr. Fogg. _The Daily
Telegraph_ was the only paper that to a certain extent supported him.
Phileas Fogg was generally looked upon as a maniac, and his friends at
the Reform Club were much blamed for having taken up the wager, which
only betrayed the want of brain of its proposer.

Extremely passionate but logical articles were written upon the
question. We all know the interest that the English take in any
geographical problem, and readers of every class devoured the columns
in which Mr. Fogg's expedition was debated.

For the first few days some bold spirits, principally women, espoused
his cause, particularly when _The Illustrated London News_ published
his portrait, and certain gentlemen went so far as to say: "Well, why
should he not after all? More extraordinary things have happened."
These were chiefly readers of _The Daily Telegraph_, but they very
soon felt that that journal itself began to waver.

On the 7th of October a long article appeared in the proceedings of
the Royal Geographical Society, the writer of which treated the
question from all points of view, and clearly demonstrated the
futility of the enterprise. According to that article, everything was
against the traveller--all obstacles material and physical were
against him. In order to succeed, it was nece