The next day, Fogg stayed in his room. He did not come out for breakfast or lunch. Passepartout felt terrible about the whole situation. He blamed himself for all the delays. Aouda was deeply worried about Fogg. She had grown to love him during their long journey. His kindness and courage had touched her heart. That evening, she knocked on his door. 'Mr. Fogg, may I speak with you?' she asked. Fogg opened the door and invited her in. His face was calm, as always. 'Mr. Fogg, do you blame me for your troubles?' she asked. 'You, madam?' said Fogg with surprise. 'Why would I blame you?' 'If you had not saved me in India, you would have won your bet.' 'Madam, I regret nothing,' said Fogg gently. 'Saving your life was worth more than any bet.' Aouda took a deep breath. 'Mr. Fogg, I have something to tell you.' 'You have lost your fortune because of this journey.' 'But you have gained something else.' 'What is that?' asked Fogg. 'My love,' said Aouda simply. 'I love you, Mr. Fogg.' 'Will you marry me?' For the first time, emotion showed on Fogg's face. A light came into his eyes. 'My dear Aouda,' he said softly. 'I too have grown to love you.' 'Yes, I will marry you.' Aouda smiled with pure joy. Fogg called for Passepartout. 'Please go to the church,' said Fogg. 'Arrange for a wedding tomorrow, Monday.' Passepartout was delighted by this happy news. He rushed off to the church immediately. But he returned just minutes later. His face was pale with shock. 'Master!' he shouted, running into the room. 'The wedding cannot be tomorrow!' 'Why not?' asked Fogg. 'Because tomorrow is Sunday!' cried Passepartout. 'No, today is Sunday,' said Fogg calmly. 'Today is Saturday, December 21st.' 'No, master!' exclaimed Passepartout. 'Today is Saturday the 21st, but tomorrow is also the 21st!' 'We gained a day by traveling east around the world!' Fogg stared at his servant in disbelief. He grabbed a newspaper and checked the date. Passepartout was right! By traveling eastward, they had crossed the International Date Line. This meant they had gained one full day. Today was Saturday, not Sunday! Fogg still had time to win his bet! He looked at the clock. It was 8:35 PM. He had only ten minutes to reach the Reform Club. 'A cab!' shouted Fogg. He ran out of the house and jumped into a waiting carriage. 'Reform Club!' he ordered. 'As fast as you can!' The cab raced through the streets of London. Passepartout and Aouda watched him go. Would he make it in time? The streets were crowded with Saturday evening traffic. The cab turned corners at dangerous speeds. Fogg held on tightly and watched the minutes tick by. 8:40... 8:42... 8:43... At last, the Reform Club appeared ahead. Fogg jumped out of the cab before it fully stopped.
B1Chapter 11 / 12482 words70 sentences
Chapter 11: Aouda's Confession
Chapter 11 · Around the World in 80 Days · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
Aouda confesses her love to Fogg, believing he has lost everything. Her proposal leads to an unexpected discovery that changes everything.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
Why did Aouda confess her love to Fogg?
2
What important discovery did Passepartout make?
3
How did Fogg respond when Aouda asked if he blamed her?
4