English
‘Iwanttoforgetthename“Passepartout”.’
‘I’llcallyouPassepartout,’saidPhileasFogg.
In1872,theReformClubinLondon’sPallMallwasaclubformenonly.PhileasFoggwenttothePreformClubeveryday.Helefthishouseat7SavileRowat11.30inthemorningandwalkedtotheclub.Hehadhislunchandhisdinnerthere.Hereadthepapersattheclub,andheplayedcards.HeleftlateintheeveningandwalkedbacktoSavileRow.Hewenttobedatmidnight.
PhileasFoggwasacoldman.Hedidn’ttalkmuch,andnobodyknewmuchabouthim.Buteverythinginhislifehadtoberight.Hiswashingwaterhadtobeat31°C—not30°Candnot32°C.
At9.37onthemorningof2ndOctober1872hisservant,JamesForster,broughthimwaterat30°C,not31°C.Sothisservanthadtogo.PhileasFoggsatathomeinhisSavileRowhouse.Hewaitedforhisnewservant.
Thenewservantcame.Hewasaboutthirtyyearsold.
‘YouareFrench,’saidPhileasFogg,‘andyournameisJohn?’
‘No,’saidthenewservant.’MynameisJean,Mr.Fogg.TheycallmeJeanPassepartout,becauseinFrencha”passepartout”canopeneverydoor.Whenthingsarebad,Icanalwaysgetout.Icangetoutofanything!’
‘Tellmeaboutyourwork,’saidPhileasFogg.
‘IamagoodmanandIcandoalotofdifferentjobs,’saidJeanPassepartout.‘IwasafiremaninParis.And...look!’Passepartoutdidahighjump,thenputhisleftlegandthenhisrightlegonhishead.Hewasastrongman.
‘ButIleftFrancein1867,’saidPassepartout,’andIcametoEngland.Iwanttobeaservant.Iamlookingforaquietlife.PeoplesaythatyouarethequietestmaninBritain.SoIwanttoworkforyou.Iwanttolivequietlynow.Iwanttoforgetthename”Passepartout”.’
‘I’llcallyouPassepartout,’saidPhileasFogg.’Whattimeisit?’
Passepartoutpulledoutabigwatchandlookedatit.
‘Itis11.29,Mr.Fogg,’hesaid.
‘Allright.Fromnow,11.29on2ndOctober1872,youaremyservant.’
Withthosewords,PhileasFoggputonhishatandwentout.Therewasnobodyinthehouse,then,onlyPassepartout.
‘HereIam,’theFrenchmanthought.’ButwhatdoIdo?’
Hewentintoeveryroominthehouse.Hefoundhisroom,andinittherewasatimetable.Everythingwasthere,startingfrom8o’clock.PhileasFogggotupatthattime.
8.23Bringtea.
9.37Bringwashingwater(31°C).
11.30PFgoestotheReformClub.
Then,from11.30inthemorningtomidnight,everythingwasonthetimetable.Mr.Foggalwayswenttobedatmidnight.
Passepartoutsmiled.‘Thisisrightforme,’hethought.‘Mr.Foggisthemanforme!’
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