Round the world

Round the World in Eighty Days

This man is hiring a new servant, after firing one for bringing his shaving water at 84 degrees instead of 86 degrees. Fogg is a man of the world, a prominent but mysterious member of the Reform Club. He is seen only at his club, at the one he arrives the same time every day for lunch and leaves every night at midnight. No one knows what he does. He appears to be rich but not showy. He gives his money to charitable purposes, but he has almost zero communication to anyone. He all he does is read the papers, eat, and play with the same men. He often wins at cards, he gives the money to charity. He seems to be a world traveler because he knows about every spot around the globe. He has no wife or children but lives alone in a comfortable house. He has been a singer, gymnast, circus performer, a fireman, and a valet. He had heard of Fogg’s strict requirements and wanted to work for him, to lead a quiet and orderly life. Fogg tests him by asking what time it is. Passepartout brings out his large watch and says the time. He corrects him, saying he is some minutes slow. They synchronize their watches as a gesture of formal contract, and he has effectively hired his new man. Without any other word. In Hong Kong, it turns out that Aouda's distant relative, in whose care they had been planning to leave her, has moved to Holland, so they decide to take her with them to Europe. Still without a warrant, Fix sees Hong Kong as his last chance to arrest Fogg on British soil. Passepartout becomes convinced that Fix is a spy from the Reform Club. Fix confides in Passepartout, who does not believe a word and remains convinced that his master is not a bank robber. To prevent Passepartout from informing his master about the premature departure of their next vessel, the Carnatic, Fix gets Passepartout drunk and drugs him in an opium den. Passepartout still manages to catch the steamer to Yokohama, but neglects to inform Fogg that the steamer is leaving the evening before its scheduled departure date.

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