Вокруг света за 80 дней / Around the World in 80 Days

I believe I’m honest, monsieur, but I’ve had several trades. I’ve been an itinerant singer[15 - itinerant singer – бродячий певец], a circus-rider[16 - circus-rider – цирковой наездник], when I used to dance on a rope. Then I got to be a professor of gymnastics; and then I was a sergeant fireman[17 - sergeant fireman – старший пожарный] at Paris. But I quitted France five years ago, and took service as a valet here in England.”

“Passepartout,” responded Mr.

Fogg, “you are well recommended to me; I hear a good report of you. You know my conditions?”

“Yes, monsieur.”

“Good! What time is it?”

“Twenty-two minutes after eleven,” returned Passepartout, drawing an enormous silver watch from the depths of his pocket.

“Your watch is too slow,” said Mr. Fogg.

“Pardon me, monsieur, it is impossible—”

“Four minutes slow. No matter; it’s enough to mention the error. Now from this moment, twenty-nine minutes after eleven, a.

m., this Wednesday, 2nd October, you are in my service.”

Phileas Fogg got up, took his hat in his left hand, put it on his head with an automatic motion, and went off without a word. Passepartout remained alone in the house in Saville Row.

Chapter II

“Oh,” muttered Passepartout, “I’ve seen people at Madame Tussaud’s[18 - Madame Tussaud’s – музей мадам Тюссо (музей восковых фигур в Лондоне)] as lively as my new master!” Madame Tussaud’s “people,” let it be said, are of wax, and are much visited in London.

During his brief interview with Mr. Fogg, Passepartout had been carefully observing him. He appeared to be a man about forty years of age, with fine, handsome features, and a tall, well-shaped figure; his hair and whiskers were light, his forehead compact and unwrinkled, his face rather pale, his teeth magnificent. Calm and phlegmatic, with a clear eye, Mr.

Fogg seemed a perfect type of that English composure. He was so exact that he was never in a hurry, was always ready, and was economical alike of his steps and his motions. He always went to his destination by the shortest cut; he made no superfluous gestures, and was never seen to be moved or agitated. He was the most deliberate person in the world. He lived alone, and, so to speak, outside of every social relation.