Page 324 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

he had lost his wager. It was not even necessary that he
should go to his bankers for the twenty thousand pounds;
for his antagonists already had his cheque in their hands,
and they had only to fill it out and send it to the Barings

to have the amount transferred to their credit.
Mr. Fogg, therefore, had no reason for going out, and
so he remained at home. He shut himself up in his room,
and busied himself putting his affairs in order. Passepartout
continually ascended and descended the stairs. The hours
were long for him. He listened at his master’s door, and
looked through the keyhole, as if he had a perfect right so
to do, and as if he feared that something terrible might
happen at any moment. Sometimes he thought of Fix, but
no longer in anger. Fix, like all the world, had been
mistaken in Phileas Fogg, and had only done his duty in
tracking and arresting him; while he, Passepartout…. This
thought haunted him, and he never ceased cursing his
miserable folly.
Finding himself too wretched to remain alone, he
knocked at Aouda’s door, went into her room, seated
himself, without speaking, in a corner, and looked ruefully
at the young woman. Aouda was still pensive.

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