《Around the World In 80 Days》 CHAPTER32
by Jules Verne
The `China', in leaving, seemed to have carried off Phileas Fogg's
last hope. None of the other steamers were able to serve his projects.
The `Pereire', of the French Transatlantic Company, whose admirable
steamers are equal to any in speed and comfort, did not leave until
the 14th; the Hamburg boats did not go directly to Liverpool or London,
but to Havre; and the additional trip from Havre to Southampton would
render Phileas Fogg's last efforts of no avail. The Inman steamer did
not depart till the next day, and could not cross the Atlantic in time
to save the wager.
Mr Fogg learned all this in consulting his `Bradshaw', which gave him
the daily movements of the transatlantic steamers.
Passepartout was crushed; it overwhelmed him to lose the boat by three-quarters
of an hour. It was his fault, for, instead of helping his master, he
had not ceased putting obstacles in his path! And when he recalled all
the incidents of the tour, when he counted up the sums expended in pure
loss and on his own account, when he thought that the immense stake,
added to the heavy charges of this useless journey, would completely
ruin Mr Fogg, he overwhelmed himself with bitter self-accusations. Mr
Fogg, however, did not reproach him; and, on leaving the Cunard pier,
only said: `We will consult about what is best tomorrow. Come.'
The party crossed the Hudson in the Jersey City ferry-boat, and drove
in a carriage to the St Nicholas Hotel, on Broadway. Rooms were engaged,
and the night passed, briefly to Phileas Fogg, who slept profoundly,
but very long to Aouda and the others, whose agitation did not permit
them to rest.
The next day was the 12th of December. From seven in the morning of
the 12th, to a quarter before nine in the evening of the 21st, there
were nine days, thirteen hours, and forty-five minutes. If Phileas Fogg
had left in the `China', one of the fastest steamers on the Atlantic,
he would have reached Liverpool, and then London, within the period
"agreed upon.
Mr Fogg left the hotel alone, after giving Passepartout instructions
to await his return, and inform Aouda to be ready at an instant's notice.
He proceeded to the banks of the Hudson, and looked about among the
vessels moored or anchored in the river, for any that were about to
depart. Several had departure signals, and were preparing to put to
sea at morning tide; for in this immense and admirable port there is
not one day in a hundred that vessels do not set out for every quarter
of the globe. But they were mostly sailing vessels, of which, of course,
Phileas Fogg could make no use.
He seemed about to give up all hope, when he espied, anchored at the
Battery, a cable's length off at most, a trading vessel, with a screw,
well-shaped, whose funnel, puffing a cloud of smoke, indicated that
she was getting ready for departure.
Phileas Fogg hailed a boat, got into it, and soon found himself on
board the `Henrietta', iron-hulled, wood-built above. He ascended to
the deck, and asked for the captain, who forthwith presented himself.
He was a man of fifty, a sort of sea-wolf, with big eyes, a complexion
of oxidized copper, red hair and thick neck, and a growling voice.
`The captain?' asked Mr Fogg.
`I am the captain.'
`I am Phileas Fogg, of London.'
`And I am Andrew Speedy, of Cardiff.'
`You are going to put to sea?'
`In an hour.'
`You are bound for--'
`Bordeaux.'
`And your cargo?'
`No freight. Going in ballast.'
`Have you any passengers?'
`No passengers. Never have passengers. Too much in the way.'
`Is your vessel a swift one?'
`Between eleven and twelve knots. The "Henrietta", well known.'
`Will you carry me and three other persons to Liverpool?'
`To Liverpool? Why not to China?'
`I said Liverpool.'
`No!'
`No?'
`No. I am setting out for Bordeaux, and shall go to Bordeaux.'
`Money is no object?'
`None.'
The captain spoke in a tone which did not admit of a reply.
`But the owners of the "Henrietta" - ,' resumed Phileas Fogg.
`The owners are myself,' replied the captain. `The vessel belongs to
me.'
`I will freight it for you.'
`No.'
`I will buy it of you.'
`No.'
Phileas Fogg did not betray the least disappointment; but the situation
was a grave one. It was not at New York as at Hong Kong, nor with the
captain of the `Henrietta' as with the captain of the `Tankadere'. Up
to this time money had smoothed away every obstacle. Now money failed.
Still, some means must be found to cross the Atlantic on a boat, unless
by balloon, - which would have been venturesome, besides not being capable
of being put in practice. It seemed that Phileas Fogg had an idea, for
he said to the captain, `Well, will you carry me to Bordeaux?'
`No, not if you paid me two hundred dollars.'
`I offer you two thousand.'
`Apiece?'
`Apiece.'
`And there are four of you?'
`Four.'
Captain Speedy began to scratch his head. There were eight thousand
dollars to gain, without changing his route; for which it was well worth
conquering the repugnance he had for all kinds of passengers. Besides,
passengers at two thousand dollars are no longer passengers, but valuable
merchandise. `I start at nine o'clock,' said Captain Speedy, simply.
`Are you and your party ready?'
`We will be on board at nine o'clock,' replied, no less simply, Mr
Fogg.
It was half-past eight. To disembark from the `Henrietta', jump into
a hack, hurry to the St Nicholas, and return with Aouda, Passepartout,
and even the inseparable Fix, was the work of a brief time, and was
performed by Mr Fogg with the coolness which never abandoned him. They
were on board when the `Henrietta' made ready to weigh anchor.
When Passepartout heard what his last voyage was going to cost, he
uttered a prolonged `Oh!' which extended throughout his vocal gamut.
As for Fix, he said to himself that the Bank of England would certainly
not come out of this affair well indemnified. When they reached England,
even if Mr Fogg did not throw some handfuls of bank-bills into the sea,
more than seven thousand pounds would have been spent!
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