In which Phileas Fogg struggles against Ill-luck.
The _China_ seemed to have carried off Mr. Fogg's last hope, for no
other steamers of any other line would be of use. The _Pereire_, of
the French Transatlantic Company, did not leave till the 14th, while
the boats of the Hamburg American Company also went to Havre, and not
direct to Liverpool or London; and this extra passage from Havre to
Southampton would upset his calculations.
The Inman steamer _City of Paris_ would not start till next day--that
would be too late. Nor would the White Star Line serve his purpose;
all of which Mr. Fogg learnt from "Bradshaw." Passe-partout was
completely upset; it was maddening to lose the steamer by
three-quarters of an hour, and it was his fault, too, for putting
obstacles in his master's way; and when he looked back at the
incidents of the journey, the sums expended on his account, the
enormous wager, and tremendous charges of the now useless trip, he was
overwhelmed. Mr. Fogg, however, did not reproach him, but as he
quitted the pier, said: "We will see to-morrow what is best to be
done. Come along."
The party crossed the river, and drove to the St. Nicholas Hotel, in
Broadway, where they engaged rooms; but Fogg was the only one who
slept. Next day was the 12th of December. From that day, at seven in
the morning, to the 21st, at a quarter to nine in the evening, was a
period of nine days, thirteen hours, and forty-five minutes; so if
Phileas Fogg had sailed in the _China_, he would have reached London
in time to win his wager.
Mr. Fogg left the hotel by himself, telling the others to wait his
return, but to be ready to leave at a moment's notice. He went down to
the Hudson River, to see if there were any vessels about to start.
Several were getting ready to go to sea, but the majority of them were
sailing ships, which of course did not suit Mr. Fogg. He appeared to
have lost his last hope, when he perceived a small screw-steamer
moored off the battery; the funnel was pouring forth black smoke, and
everything looked like a speedy departure. Mr. Fogg hailed a boat, and
soon found himself on board the _Henrietta_, which was an iron
steamer. The captain was on board, and approached Mr. Fogg to answer
his inquiries. This captain was a man about fifty, a regular sea-wolf.
"Are you the captain?" asked Mr. Fogg.
"I am."
"I am Phileas Fogg, of London."
"And I am Andrew Speedy, of Cardiff."
"You are about to sail, I suppose?"
"In an hour."
"Where are you bound?"
"For Bordeaux."
"And your cargo?"
"I am only in ballast."
"Have you any passengers?"
"I never take passengers; they are always in the way, and always
talking."
"Does your ship steam well?"
"Between eleven and twelve knots. The _Henrietta_ is well known."
"Would you like to take me and my three friends to Liverpool?"
"To Liverpool! Why not China at once?"
"I said Liverpool."
"No."
"No?"
"No, I tell you. I am bound for Bordeaux, and to Bordeaux I shall go."
"Will money have any effect?"
"Not the least."
The captain spoke in a tone which did not admit of argument.
"But the owners of the _Henrietta_?" began Fogg.
"I am the owner. The vessel belongs to me."
"I will hire it from you."
"No."
"I will buy it, then."
"No."
Mr. Fogg did not betray the slightest disappointment, notwithstanding
the gravity of the situation. Things were not at New York as at Hong
Kong, nor was the captain of the _Henrietta_ like the pilot of the
_Tankadere_. Hitherto money had smoothed all obstacles. Now it failed.
Nevertheless, some means of crossing the Atlantic must be found, and
Phileas Fogg, apparently, had an idea, for he said to the captain:
"Will you take me to Bordeaux, then?"
"Not if you gave me two hundred dollars."
"I will give you two thousand dollars."
"What, for each passenger?"
"Yes."
"And there are four of you?"
"Yes."
This reply caused Captain Speedy to scratch his head. There were eight
thousand dollars to be gained, by simply going his own route; and such
a sum might well overcome his antipathy to passengers. Besides,
passengers at two thousand dollars apiece become valuable merchandise.
"I start at nine o'clock," said Captain Speedy quietly; "and if you
and your party are ready, why, there you are."
"We shall be on board at nine," replied Mr. Fogg, not less quietly.
It was then half-past eight. To land again, drive up to the hotel, and
bring off his party to the _Henrietta_, did not take Mr. Fogg very
long. He even offered a passage to the inseparable Fix. All this was
done by Mr. Fogg as coolly as possible.
They were all on board by the time the _Henrietta_ was ready to start.
When Passe-partout heard what the voyage was going to cost, he uttered
a prolonged "Oh!" which descended through all the notes of the gamut.
As for Fix, he concluded at once that the Bank of England would not
recover much of the money, for by the time they reached England, if
Mr. Fogg did not throw away any more money, at least seven thousand
pounds would have been spent.