twenty minutes past eight
The police had the greatest difficulty to keep back the crowd , and as the hour when Mr. Fogg was due approached , the excitement rose to fever-heat . That evening that gentleman 's five friends had assembled in the drawing-room of the club . There were the two bankers , John Sullivan and Samuel Fallentin ; Andrew Stuart , the engineer ; Gauthier Ralph , the director of the Bank of England ; and Thomas Flanagan , the brewer ; all awaiting Mr. Fogg 's return with the greatest anxiety . At twenty minutes past eight Stuart rose and said : `` Gentlemen , in twenty-five minutes the time agreed upon will have expired . '' `` At what time was the last train due from Liverpool ? '' asked Flanagan . `` At 7.23 , '' replied Ralph ; `` and the next does not arrive till past midnight . ''