when Phileas Fogg was due approached, the excite-
ment rose to its highest pitch.

The five antagonists of Phileas Fogg had met in the
great saloon of the club. John Sullivan and Samuel
Fallentin, the bankers, Andrew Stuart, the engineer,
Gauthier Ralph, the director of the Bank of England,
and Thomas Flanagan, the brewer, one and all waited
anxiously.

When the clock indicated twenty minutes past eight,
Andrew Stuart got up, saying, "Gentlemen, in twenty
minutes the time agreed upon between Mr. Fogg and
ourselves will have expired."

"What time did the last train arrive from Liver-
pool?" asked Thomas Flanagan.

"At twenty-three minutes past seven," replied
Gauthier Ralph; "and the next does not arrive till
ten minutes after twelve."

"Well, gentlemen," resumed Andrew Stuart, "if
Phileas Fogg had come in the 7.23 train, he would
have got here by this time. We can therefore regard
the bet as won."

"Wait; don't let us be too hasty," replied Samuel
Fallentin. "You know that Mr. Fogg is very eccen-
tric. His punctuality is well known; he never arrives
too soon or too late; and I should not be surprised if
he appeared before us at the last minute."

"Why," said Andrew Stuart nervously, "if I
should see him, I should not believe it was he."

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