I looked at Monsieur Fogg
         *   ... and I could contain myself no longer.
            'What is the purpose of our journey, Monsieur?'
            'A wager,' he replied.
            * *     'A wager!'[] I returned.
                    He nodded.
                    * * *   'But surely that is foolishness!'
                    * * *  'A most serious matter then!'
                    - - -   He nodded again.
                    * * *   'But can we win?'
                            'That is what we will endeavour to find out,' he answered.
                    * * *   'A modest wager, I trust?'
                            'Twenty thousand pounds,' he replied, quite flatly.
                    * * *   I asked nothing further of him then[.], and after a final, polite cough, he offered nothing more to me. <>
            * *     'Ah[.'],' I replied, uncertain what I thought.
            - -     After that, <>
        *   ... but I said nothing[] and <>
        - we passed the day in silence.
        - -> END