When Phileas Fogg returned to his house on Savile Row, his neighbors noticed nothing unusual. The doors and windows remained tightly closed.
Inside, Mr. Fogg accepted his complete failure with his usual tranquillity. He was ruined. After traveling the entire world, surviving storms, fighting Indians, and overcoming a hundred impossible obstacles, he had lost his bet because of a foolish detective. The massive travel expenses had drained his cash, and the twenty thousand pounds in the bank now belonged to his friends at the Reform Club.
But Fogg did not panic. He knew exactly what he had to do.
He gave Aouda a comfortable guest room. She was entirely overwhelmed with sadness for her brave protector. Passepartout, meanwhile, watched his master carefully. He knew that proud Englishmen who lost everything sometimes committed suicide. He secretly promised to protect Mr. Fogg.
The first thing Passepartout did was go to his own room. He turned off the gas light, which had been burning continuously for eighty long days. He knew the heavy gas bill would be his responsibility.
The next morning, Mr. Fogg asked Passepartout to bring Aouda her breakfast. He calmly explained that he would be busy organizing his personal affairs all day, but he wished to speak with her that evening.
Passepartout’s heart was tortured by heavy remorse. He could not stay silent any longer.
"My master!" he cried out. "Why do you not yell at me? Why do you not curse my name? It is entirely my fault that—"
"I blame no one," Mr. Fogg replied softly. "Go."
Passepartout went to Aouda and delivered the message. "Madam," he pleaded. "I have absolutely no influence over my master. But maybe you can help him. Please, do not leave him alone!"
"What can I do?" Aouda replied sadly. "He has never shown any emotion. He has never read my heart. But we shall see what he says tonight."
For the rest of the day, the quiet house felt totally empty. For the first time in years, Mr. Fogg did not go to his club. He had no reason to go. He had lost the great wager, and his rich friends already had his signed check.
Passepartout spent the long hours walking up and down the stairs. He kept checking his master’s door, terrified that something awful might happen. He felt too miserable to be alone, so he finally went into Aouda’s room and sat quietly in the corner.
At half-past seven, Mr. Fogg entered the room. His face was perfectly calm. He sat in a chair near the fireplace.
"Madam," he said gently. "Will you ever pardon me for bringing you to England?"
"I, Mr. Fogg?" Aouda replied, her heart beating fast.
"When I decided to rescue you, I was a rich man," Fogg explained. "I wanted to give you part of my fortune so you could live a free and happy life here. But now, I am completely ruined. I have nothing."
"But what will become of you, Mr. Fogg?" she asked.
"I need nothing."
"Your friends or your relatives can help you," she suggested.
"I have no friends, madam. And I have no relatives."
"I pity you, Mr. Fogg," Aouda said softly. "True solitude is a terrible, sad thing. But people say that poverty is much easier to survive when it is shared by two loving souls."
"They say so, madam."
Aouda suddenly stood up and took his hands. "Mr. Fogg, do you want a friend and a relative? Will you have me for your wife?"
Phileas Fogg stood up. For the first time, a bright light flashed in his eyes, and his lips trembled slightly. He looked deeply into her beautiful, honest face.
"I love you!" he said simply. "Yes, by all that is holy, I love you, and I am entirely yours!"
"Ah!" Aouda cried, pulling his hand to her heart.
Passepartout was immediately called into the room. When he saw them holding hands, his large round face began to shine like the tropical sun. He smiled the biggest smile of his life.
"Passepartout," Mr. Fogg asked. "Is it too late to visit the Reverend Samuel Wilson?"
"Never too late!" Passepartout laughed.
"We will have the wedding tomorrow, on Monday," Mr. Fogg said, looking at Aouda.
"Yes, tomorrow!" she agreed.
Passepartout ran out of the house as fast as his legs could carry him to organize the ceremony.