Around the World in Eighty Days — Chapter 20 in French
By Jules Verne
Aouda avait accepté son offre de la conduire jusqu’en Europe, il avait dû songer à tous les détails que comporte un aussi long voyage. While these events were passing at the opium-house, Mr. Fogg, unconscious of the danger he was in of losing the steamer, was quietly escorting Aouda about the streets of the English quarter, making the necessary purchases for the long voyage before them. Qu’un Anglais comme lui fît le tour du monde un sac à la main, passe encore ; mais une femme ne pouvait entreprendre une pareille traversée dans ces conditions. It was all very well for an Englishman like Mr. Fogg to make the tour of the world with a carpet-bag; a lady could not be expected to travel comfortably under such conditions. Fogg s’acquitta de sa tâche avec le calme qui le caractérisait, et à toutes les excuses ou objections de la jeune veuve, confuse de tant de complaisance : He acquitted his task with characteristic serenity, and invariably replied to the remonstrances of his fair companion, who was confused by his patience and generosity,—
« C’est dans l’intérêt de mon voyage, c’est dans mon programme, » répondait-il invariablement. "It is in the interest of my journey—a part of my programme."
Aouda, un peu fatiguée, remonta dans son appartement, après avoir « à l’anglaise » serré la main de son imperturbable sauveur. The purchases made, they returned to the hotel, where they dined at a sumptuously served table-d'hôte; after which Aouda, shaking hands with her protector after the English fashion, retired to her room for rest. L’honorable gentleman, lui, s’absorba pendant toute la soirée dans la lecture du Times et de l’Illustrated London News. Mr. Fogg absorbed himself throughout the evening in the perusal of the Times and Illustrated London News.
S’il avait été homme à s’étonner de quelque chose, c’eût été de ne point voir apparaître son domestique à l’heure du coucher. Had he been capable of being astonished at anything, it would have been not to see his servant return at bedtime. Mais, sachant que le paquebot de Yokohama ne devait pas quitter Hong-Kong avant le lendemain matin, il ne s’en préoccupa pas autrement. But, knowing that the steamer was not to leave for Yokohama until the next morning, he did not disturb himself about the matter. Fogg se contenta de prendre son sac, fit prévenir Mrs. Aouda, et envoya chercher un palanquin. When Passepartout did not appear the next morning to answer his master's bell, Mr. Fogg, not betraying the least vexation, contented himself with taking his carpet-bag, calling Aouda, and sending for a palanquin.