"Mr. Fogg," she replied, "it is I who ought to have asked you that question. You were ruined then, but now you are rich."
"Excuse me, madam," he replied, "this fortune belongs to you. If you had not thought of the wedding, my servant would never have gone to see Mr. Wilson, and I should not have found out my mistake."
"Dear Mr. Fogg," said the young lady.
"My dearest Aouda," replied Phileas Fogg.
The marriage took place forty-eight hours afterwards, and Passe-partout, beaming and resplendent, gave the bride away. Had he not saved her life, and was he not entitled to the honour?
On the wedding morning Passe-partout knocked at his master's door.
"What is the matter, Passe-partout?"
"Well, sir, I have just this moment found out that we might have gone round the world in seventy-eight days only."
"No doubt," replied Mr. Fogg, "if we had not crossed India; but if I had not crossed India we should not have rescued Mrs. Aouda, and she would never have been my wife."
And Mr. Fogg shut the door quietly.