Suez, Egypt, October 9, 1872

October 9, 1872

I have now gotten over my surprise and astonishment at my master’s proposed journey around the world. I am called Passepartout by my master, Mr. Phileas Fogg. After leaving London we went to Dover. Then from Dover we went to on to Paris. Sadly, I did not see much of Paris. In fact “,all that I saw of Paris was between the Northern and the Lyons stations, through the windows of a car, and in a driving rain! How I regret not having seen once more Pere la Chaise and the circus in the Champs Elysees” (Page 724)!

               All of this I told man name Fix. I first met him just after we arrived in Suez on the Mongolia. I asked him where the English consul was located. He pointed it out to me. However, he told me that my master would have to go in person to have his passport visa. I told him that my master would not like to be disturbed. I went back on to the ship. A little while later, my master and I were heading for the English consul. We went in and my master had his passport visa. He went back to the ship and I wondered about on the quay for a while.

Then I was approached by the man I would later know to be named Fix. I told him all about my master’s proposed journey around the world in 80 days. I told him also about the gas burner that I had left on. I told him how much the burning of the gas would cost me.

The Reform Club, London, England in 1872

I am Phileas Fogg. On this day October 2, 1872, I have employed a Frenchmen named Passpartout. He will be my new servant as i only need one. I have left him and gone to my club, "The Reform Club." I eat my breakfast at my same table in the dining room. I go into another room and read The Times until a quarter before four. Then I read The Standard until the dinner hour. My friends come in a few minutes later. They start talking about a bank robbery that occurred a few days before.

I say "The Daily Telegraph says that he is a gentleman" (Around the World In 80 Days, Verne). This my opinion of the robber. I enter into the conversation with this statement. We go on to play a few rubbers of whist. Then we start to discuss how long it would take to travel around the world. A newspaper says that it would 80 days.

I insist that this is the correct estimate. One of my friends asks me if I would wager on my making the trip around the world in 80 days. I accept the wager and wager 20,000 pounds that I will successfully complete the trip. I say i will start the trip tonight. I will catch the train for Dover at a quarter before nine. They offer to suspend the game for me to prepare. I say that I'm quite ready now. I ask them to continue our game of whist. 

I then leave my club at 25 minutes after seven. I go back to my house and I go to my room. I call my servant twice before he comes to my room. I tell him we are going around the world in 80 days. I ask him to get a carpet bag, two shirts, and three pairs of trousers for me and for himself. At eight we lock the house door and ride a cab to Charing Cross. 

I meet a woman covered in rags with a child in her arms asking for alms. I give the 20 guineas i won at whist then night to her, glad i have met her. Then I proceed to the platform. I meet my friends on the platform and tell them that they will check my passport when I return to prove that I made the journey. I say goodbye to them  and Passpartout and I board the train. A while later as the train passes a town Passpartout lets of a sound of anguish. I ask him what is the matter. He tells me that he left the gas burning in his room when we left the house. I tell that it will burn at his expense.