Page 148 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

too late for the Yokohama boat, would almost inevitably
cause the loss of the wager. But this man of nerve
manifested neither impatience nor annoyance; it seemed as
if the storm were a part of his programme, and had been

foreseen. Aouda was amazed to find him as calm as he had
been from the first time she saw him.
Fix did not look at the state of things in the same light.
The storm greatly pleased him. His satisfaction would have
been complete had the Rangoon been forced to retreat
before the violence of wind and waves. Each delay filled
him with hope, for it became more and more probable
that Fogg would be obliged to remain some days at Hong
Kong; and now the heavens themselves became his allies,
with the gusts and squalls. It mattered not that they made
him sea-sick—he made no account of this inconvenience;
and, whilst his body was writhing under their effects, his
spirit bounded with hopeful exultation.
Passepartout was enraged beyond expression by the
unpropitious weather. Everything had gone so well till
now! Earth and sea had seemed to be at his master’s
service; steamers and railways obeyed him; wind and steam
united to speed his journey. Had the hour of adversity
come? Passepartout was as much excited as if the twenty
thousand pounds were to come from his own pocket. The

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