three
o'clock
It was forty minutes past two . The express train had left thirty-five minutes before . Phileas Fogg then ordered a special train . There were several rapid locomotives on hand ; but the railway arrangements did not permit the special train to leave until three o'clock . At that hour Phileas Fogg , having stimulated the engineer by the offer of a generous reward , at last set out towards London with Aouda and his faithful servant . It was necessary to make the journey in five hours and a half ; and this would have been easy on a clear road throughout . But there were forced delays , and when Mr. Fogg stepped from the train at the terminus , all the clocks in London were striking ten minutes before nine .