"In eighty days," replied Mr. Fogg. "On Saturday, the 21st day of December, 1872, at forty-five minutes past eight in the evening. _Au revoir_, gentlemen." At twenty minutes to nine Phileas Fogg and his servant took their places in the train. At 8.45 the engine whistled and the train started. The night was dark, and a fine rain was falling. Mr. Fogg was comfortably settled in his corner, and did not say a word. Passe-partout, still rather in a state of stupefaction, mechanically gripped the bag with the bank-notes. But scarcely had the train rushed through Sydenham, than Passe-partout uttered a cry of despair. "What is the matter with you?" asked Mr. Fogg. "Oh dear me! In my hurry I quite forgot--" "What?" "I forgot to turn the gas off in my room!" "Very well, my lad," replied Mr. Fogg coolly, "then it must burn while we are away--at your expense." CHAPTER V. In which a New Kind of Investment appears on the Stock Exchange. When Phileas Fogg quitted London, he had no doubt that his departure would create a great sensation. The report of the bet spread from the club to outsiders, and so to all the newspapers in the United Kingdom. This question of going round the world in eighty days was commented upon, discussed, and dissected, and argued as much as the Alabama Claims had been. Some agreed with Phileas Fogg, but the majority were against him. To accomplish the tour in fact was an impossibility, under the present system of communication. It was sheer madness. _The Times_, _The Standard_, _The Morning Chronicle_, and twenty other respectable journals gave their verdict against Mr. Fogg. _The Daily Telegraph_ was the only paper that to a certain extent supported him. Phileas Fogg was generally looked upon as a maniac, and his friends at the Reform Club were much blamed for having taken up the wager, which only betrayed the want of brain of its proposer. Extremely passionate but logical articles were written upon the question. We all know the interest that the English take in any geographical problem, and readers of every class devoured the columns in which Mr. Fogg's expedition was debated. For the first few days some bold spirits, principally women, espoused his cause, particularly when _The Illustrated London News_ published his portrait, and certain gentlemen went so far as to say: "Well, why should he not after all? More extraordinary things have happened." These were chiefly readers of _The Daily Telegraph_, but they very soon felt that that journal itself began to waver.