`That is true, gentlemen,' added John Sullivan.

`Only eighty days, now that the section between Rothal and Allahabad, on the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, has been opened. Here is the estimate made by the Daily Telegraph:--

From London to Suez via Mont Cenis and Brindisi, by rail and steamboats 7 days.
From Suez to Bombay, by steamer 13 "

From Bombay to Calcutta, by rail 3 "

From Calcutta to Hong Kong, by steamer - - - - - 13 "

From Hong Kong to Yokohama (Japan), by steamer - - - - 6 "

From Yokohama to San Francisco, by steamer---------------------------- 22 "

From San Francisco to New York, by rail---------------------------- - 7 "

From New York to London, by steamer and rail-------------- 9 "

Total------------- 80 days.

`Yes, in eighty days!' exclaimed Stuart, who in his excitement made a false deal. `But that doesn't take into account bad weather, contrary winds, ship-wrecks, railway accidents, and so on.'
`All included,' returned Phileas Fogg, continuing to play despite the discussion.

`But suppose the Hindoos or Indians pull up the rails,' replied Stuart; `suppose they stop the trains, pillage the luggage-vans, and scalp the passengers!'

`All included,' calmly retorted Fogg; adding, as he threw down the cards, `Two trumps.'

Stuart, whose turn it was to deal, gathered them up, and went on: `You are right, theoretically, Mr Fogg, but practically--'

`Practically also, Mr Stuart.'

`I'd like to see you do it in eighty days.'

`It depends on you. Shall we go?'

`Heaven preserve me! But I would wager four thousand pounds that such a journey, made under these conditions, is impossible.'

`Quite possible, on the contrary,' returned Mr Fogg.

`Well, make it, then!'

`The journey round the world in eighty days?'

`Yes.'

`I should like nothing better.'

`When?'

`At once. Only I warn you that I shall do it at your expense.'

`It's absurd!' cried Stuart, who was beginning to be annoyed at the persistency of his friend. `Come, let's go on with the game.'

`Deal over again, then,' said Phileas Fogg. `There's a false deal.'

Stuart took up the pack with a feverish hand; then suddenly put them down again.

`Well, Mr Fogg,' said he, `it shall be so: I will wager the four thousand on it.'

`Calm yourself, my dear Stuart,' said Fallentin. `It's only a joke.'

`When I say I'll wager,' returned Stuart, `I mean it.'

`All right,' said Mr Fogg; and turning to the others he continued: `I have a deposit of twenty thousand at Baring's which I will willingly risk upon it.'

`Twenty thousand pounds!' cried Sullivan. `Twenty thousand pounds, which you would lose by a single accidental delay!'

`The unforeseen does not exist,' quietly replied Phileas Fogg.

`But, Mr Fogg, eighty days are only the estimate of the least possible time in which the journey can be made.'

`A well - used minimum suffices for everything.'

`But, in order not to exceed it, you must jump mathematically from the trains upon the steamers, and from the steamers upon the trains again.'

`I will jump-mathematically.'

`You are joking.'

`A true Englishman doesn't joke when he is talking about so serious a thing as a wager,' replied Phileas Fogg, solemnly. `I wil

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