Page 267 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

‘When and where you will,’ replied the American, ‘and
with whatever weapon you choose.’
Aouda in vain attempted to retain Mr. Fogg; as vainly
did the detective endeavour to make the quarrel his.

Passepartout wished to throw the colonel out of the
window, but a sign from his master checked him. Phileas
Fogg left the car, and the American followed him upon
the platform. ‘Sir,’ said Mr. Fogg to his adversary, ‘I am in
a great hurry to get back to Europe, and any delay
whatever will be greatly to my disadvantage.’
‘Well, what’s that to me?’ replied Colonel Proctor.
‘Sir,’ said Mr. Fogg, very politely, ‘after our meeting at
San Francisco, I determined to return to America and find
you as soon as I had completed the business which called
me to England.’
‘Really!’
‘Will you appoint a meeting for six months hence?’
‘Why not ten years hence?’
‘I say six months,’ returned Phileas Fogg; ‘and I shall be
at the place of meeting promptly.’
‘All this is an evasion,’ cried Stamp Proctor. ‘Now or
never!’
‘Very good. You are going to New York?’
‘No.’

266 of 339