At the fortieth second no news; at the fiftieth still nothing. At the fifty-fifth second a loud roar was heard from the street mingled with cheers and oaths.
All the players rose simultaneously.
At the fifty-seventh second the door of the room was thrust open, and before the pendulum had marked the minute Phileas Fogg advanced into the room, followed to the door by an excited crowd who had forced their way in, and he said in his usual calm tone,
"Here I am, gentlemen."
CHAPTER XXXVII.
Showing how Phileas Fogg gained only Happiness by his Tour round the
World.
Yes, it was Phileas Fogg in person.
Our readers will recollect that at five minutes after eight that evening—about twenty-five hours after our travellers' arrival in London—Passe-partout had been requested to arrange about a certain marriage with the Rev. Samuel Wilson. Passe-partout had gone on his mission rejoicing, but the clergyman was not at home. He naturally waited, but he was kept at least twenty minutes.
It was 8.35 when he left the clergyman's house, but what a state he was in! His hair was disordered, he ran home without his hat, overturning the passers-by as he went rushing along the pathway.
In three minutes he was back in Saville Row, and he rushed breathlessly into Mr. Fogg's room.