I looked at Monsieur Fogg

>) ... and I could contain myself no longer.
2) ... but I said nothing

... and I could contain myself no longer.
'What is the purpose of our journey, Monsieur?'
'A wager,' he replied.

>) 'A wager!'
2) 'Ah.'

'A wager!' I returned.
He nodded.

1) 'But surely that is foolishness!'
>) 'A most serious matter then!'

'A most serious matter then!'
He nodded again.

1) 'But can we win?'
>) 'A modest wager, I trust?'
3) I asked nothing further of him then.

'A modest wager, I trust?'
'Twenty thousand pounds,' he replied, quite flatly.
After that, we passed the day in silence.