fire。 But I quitted France five years ago and； wishing to taste the sweets of domestic life； took service as a valet here in England。 Finding myself out of place； and hearing that Monsieur Phileas Fogg was the most exact and settled gentleman in the United Kingdom； I have come to monsieur in the hope of living with him a tranquil life； and forgetting even the name of Passepartout。'
‘Passepartout suits me；' 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。
‘You are too slow；' said Mr Fogg。
‘Pardon me； monsieur； it is impossible……'
‘You are four minutes too slow。 No matter； it's enough to mention the error。 Now from this moment； twenty…nine minutes after eleven； a。m。； this Wednesday； October 2nd； 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 heard the street door shut once； it was his new master going out。 He heard it shut again； it was his predecessor； James Forster； departing in his turn。 Passepartout remained alone in the house in Saville Row。
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CHAPTER II
IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS CONVINCED THAT HE HAS AT LAST FOUND HIS IDEAL。
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‘Faith；' muttered Passepartout； somewhat flurried； ‘I've seen people at Madame Tussaud's as lively as my new master！'
Madame Tussaud's ‘people；' let it be said； are of wax； and are much visited in London； speech is all that is wanting to make them human。
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。 His countenance possessed in the highest degree what physiognomists call ‘repose in action；' a quality of those who act rather than talk。 Calm and phlegmatic； with a clear eye； Mr Fogg seemed a perfect type of that English composure which Angelica Kauffmann has so skilfully represented on canvas。 Seen in the various phases of his daily life； he gave the idea of being perfectly well…balanced； as exactly regulated as a Leroy chronometer。 Phileas Fogg was； indeed； exactitude personified； and this was betrayed even in the expression of his very hands and feet； for in men； as well as in animals； the limbs themselves are expressive of the passions。
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 never took one step too many； and 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； yet always reached his destination at the exact moment。
He lived alone； and so to speak； outside of every social relation； and as he knew that in this world acomount must be taken of friction； and that friction retards； he never rubbed against anybody。
As for Passepartout； he was a true Parisian of Paris。 Since he had abandoned his own country for England； taking service as a valet； he had in vain searched for a master after his own heart。 Passepartout was by no means one of those pert dunces depicted by Molière； with a bold gaze and a nose held high in the air； he was an honest fellow； with a pleasant face； lips a trifle protruding； soft … mannered and serviceable； with a good round head； such as one likes to see on the shoulders of a friend。 His eyes were blue； his complexion rubicund； his figure almost portly and well … built； his body muscular； and his physical powers fully developed by the exercises of his younger days。 His brown hair was somewhat tumbled； for while the ancient sculptors are said to have known eighteen methods of arranging Minerva's tresses； Passepartout was familiar with but one of dressing his own： three strokes of a large … tooth comb completed his toilet。
It would be rash to predict how Passepartout's lively nature would agree with Mr Fogg。 It was impossible to tell whether the new servant would turn out as absolutely methodical as his master required； experience alone could solve the question。 Passepartout had been a sort of vagrant in his early years； and now yearned for repose； but so far he had failed to find it； though he had already served in ten English houses。 But he could not take root in any of these； with chagrin he found his masters invariably whimsical and irregular； constantly running about the country； or on the look…out for adventure。 His last master； young Lord Longferry； Member of Parliament； after passing his nights in the Haymarket taverns； was too often brought home in the morning on policemen's shoulders。 Passepartout； desirous of respecting the gentleman whom he served； ventured a mild remonstrance on such conduct； which being ill…received； he took his leave。 Hearing that Mr Phileas Fogg was looking for a servant； and that his life was one of unbroken regularity； that he neither travelled nor stayed from home overnight； he felt sure that this would be the place he was after。 He presented himself； and was acomepted； as has been seen。
At half…past eleven； then； Passepartout found himself alone in the house in Saville Row。 He began its inspection without delay； scouring it from cellar to garret。 So clean； well…arranged； solemn a mansion pleased him； it seemed to him like a snail's shell； lighted and warmed by gas； which sufficed for both these purposes。 When Passepartout reached the second storey he recognized at once the room which he was to inhabit； and he was well satisfied with it。 Electric bells and speaking tubes afforded communication with the lower stories； while on the mantel stood an electric clock； precisely like that in Mr Fogg's bedchamber； both beating the same second at the same instant。 ‘That's good； that'll do；' said Passepartout to himself。
He suddenly observed； hung over the clock； a card which； upon inspection； proved to be a programme of the daily routine of the house。 It comprised all that was required of the servant； from eight in the morning； exactly at which hour Phileas Fogg rose； till half…past eleven； when he left the house for the Reform Club； … all the details of service； the tea and toast at twenty…three minutes past eight； the shaving…water at thirty…seven minutes past nine； and the toilet at twenty minutes before ten。 Everything was regulated and foreseen that was to be done from half…past eleven a。m。 till midnight； the hour at which the methodical gentleman retired。
Mr Fogg's wardrobe was amply supplied and in the best taste。 Each pair of trousers； coat； and vest bore a number； indicating the time of year and season at which they were in turn to be laid out for wearing； and the same system was applied to the master's shoes。 In short； the house in Saville Row； which mus