登陆注册
14935500000002

第2章 CHAPTER II

IN WHICH PASSEPARTOUT IS CONVINCED THAT HE HAS

AT LAST FOUND HIS IDEAL

FAITH,MUTTERED Passepartout,somewhat furried,‘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 fne,handsome features,and a tall,well-shaped fgure;his hair and whiskers were light,his forehead compact and unwrinkled,his face rather pale,his teeth magnifcent。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 account 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 trife 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 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 accepted,as has been seen。

At half past eleven,then,Passepartout found himself alone in the house in Saville Row。He begun 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 suffced for both these purposes。When Passepartout reached the second story he recognised at once the room which he was to inhabit,and he was well satisfed 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 must have been a very temple of disorder and unrest under the illustrious but dissipated Sheridan,was cosiness,comfort,and method idealised。There was no study,nor were there books,which would have been quite useless to Mr。Fogg;for at the Reform two libraries,one of general literature and the other of law and politics,were at his service。A moderatesized safe stood in his bedroom,constructed so as to defy fre as well as burglars;but Passepartout found neither arms nor hunting weapons anywhere;everything betrayed the most tranquil and peaceable habits。

Having scrutinised the house from top to bottom,he rubbed his hands,a broad smile overspread his features,and he said joyfully,‘This is just what I wanted!Ah,we shall get on together,Mr。Fogg and I!What a domestic and regular gentleman!A real machine;well,I don't mind serving a machine。'

同类推荐
  • 不可不知的美国100所名校(英汉双语版)

    不可不知的美国100所名校(英汉双语版)

    本书从历史等其他角度发掘每一所名校的创立,同时传播了这些一流大学的教育精神。通过图片和文字结合来介绍名校的各自特色,让广大读者了解美国名校的情况,让国内的大学可以吸收经验,同时为学生出国留学铺一条捷径。
  • 课外英语-猫和铃(双语版)

    课外英语-猫和铃(双语版)

    本套书共50册,分为美国各州的小知识,七彩缤纷的音符,优美好看的小散文,开心时分的短文,经典流传的寓言,超级高效的短句,实际有用的词汇等等在这些书中,备有单词解释,相关简介,或中文翻译,便于同学们更好的阅读和理解,真正进入文字的内涵当中,准确地和文字进行交流。主要收入猫和铃、马和狗、卖母、狮子和公牛、每月一次、蓝胡子、老猫、睡美人等寓言故事。
  • 英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)

    英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)

    《英国学生文学读本(套装共6册)》以英文原版形式出版,图文并茂。编写体例统一严谨,包括生词、课文、语音、拼读练习、词汇解释等,同时还附加了单词拓展练习。可以伴随学生从小学直至高中或大学阶段。同时也适合成人英语学习者提高英语阅读水平使用,让众多国内读者在了解西方文学的同时,也感受英语语言的魅力。
  • 加拿大学生文学读本(第5册)

    加拿大学生文学读本(第5册)

    《西方家庭学校原版教材与经典读本?加拿大学生文学读本(第5册)》由加拿大教育部门编写的教材,分级编写,全套共五本。全书通过趣味而有教育意义的故事,引发孩子们学习语言的兴趣;并向规范、美丽的文学作品过渡,让孩子们掌握语言的艺术,并感受本国的人文历史,带读者步入优美的英语文学世界。书中所选故事不仅有助于提升学生的读写能力,让国内学生依托教材,全面系统地训练英语,同时,通过书中的道德故事、寓言、诗歌、文学作品等,感受加拿大的历史文化,培养良好的阅读兴趣。
  • 人生处处充满选择

    人生处处充满选择

    精选名人经典演讲:本书精选奥巴马、乔布斯、马克伯格、J.K.罗琳等现当代名人演讲,他们现身说法,通俗易懂地讲述了他们在人生中的选择与处世之道,给人以极大的启示和借鉴意义。过去的选择造就了你现在的一切,现在的选择就是你未来的命运。如果你知道去哪儿,全世界都会为你让路。
热门推荐
  • 武则天:无字碑上写传奇

    武则天:无字碑上写传奇

    武则天出身官宦之家,自幼美丽聪慧,是父母的掌上明珠。14岁那年,她被选进宫中,封为才人,服侍唐太宗李世民。太宗虽然对她印象不错,却并不宠爱她,特别是天象异常后,武则天彻底失去了被宠爱的机会。后来,武则天在太宗的病榻之侧结识了太子李治,并与李治产生了感情。太宗去世后,花样年华的武则天被迫出家,削发为尼。但是她不甘心就此终老一生,时刻等待着机会的来临。
  • 雷帝天尊

    雷帝天尊

    十年胸中尽怒潮,举目皆敌战八方。世间从来强凌弱,傲笑苍穹顾飞扬。少年顾飞扬自小父母失踪,受尽欺凌,在绝境中,偶得补天诀,掌雷霆天罚,铸战神之躯,纵横天下,终成雷帝天尊。
  • 红顶商人胡雪岩(全集)

    红顶商人胡雪岩(全集)

    马云、王石、冯仑、潘石屹强烈推荐!讲透中国传统政商关系的至高经典。经商的看到生存的安全边界;从政的看到权力的雷区所在。大清首富胡雪岩,幼时家贫,替人放牛为生;稍长,入钱庄干杂活,扫地、倒尿壶,得老板赏识,提为跑街;遇贵人王有龄(浙江巡抚),资助其开钱庄,并与官场中人往来,很快成为杭州巨富;王有龄兵败自杀,胡雪岩改投新任闽浙总督左宗棠门下,长袖善舞,眼光独到,囤积居奇,操纵市场,垄断金融,操办洋务,阻击外商,筹措军饷,30年间扶摇直上,直至富甲天下,得慈禧赏黄马褂穿,赐紫禁城骑马,授二品官衔,大富大贵,无人能比;更乐善好施,赢得“胡大善人”的美名。一夜之间风云突变,慈禧下令革职抄家,积攒多年的隐患全面爆发,三天之内一贫如洗,成为政治斗争的牺牲品,两年后郁郁终老,埋骨乱石丛中。
  • 娇宠萌妻:hello,小僵尸

    娇宠萌妻:hello,小僵尸

    单正明是一个豪门富二代,江篱是一个混血小僵尸,在一次猎食过程中,江篱被作为食物的单正明给一拳打掉了自己好不容养长的僵尸牙,以此便拉开了一段宠养与被养的故事。江蓠眨着眼睛,咬着自己发育过好的指甲,颇为无辜的说道:“那个我不是故意的。”单正明看着自己装修精美的卧室和法国名牌大师设计的衣服全都变成面条,一张脸黑的能滴墨了。磨牙道:“从明天开始给我剪指甲。”江蓠的小心肝一晃,她一个小僵尸怎么剪指甲啊!!主人呜,,,我以后不敢了。
  • 末世之无限噬魂

    末世之无限噬魂

    黑犀之心,打造末世至尊!当一枚穿越空间的异次元血石被赵明诡异融合之后,无限的进化吞噬之路在他的身上开始了....无尽的黑暗笼罩天地,嗜血的凶兽纵横城池,恐怖的异种纷至沓来,甚至你身边的不起眼的植物都能要你的小命!秩序已然崩溃,原则已然消失,善恶更是动念而为。曾经处于食物链顶端的人类,无情的被杀戮追逐,苟延残喘。这是一个混乱的大狩猎的时代,不想变成猎物,唯有变得更强,更狠,更暴!
  • 赛尔号折返圣灵:黑暗侵蚀

    赛尔号折返圣灵:黑暗侵蚀

    明知道自己不可能在黑暗里存活,何必坚持下去呢?【黑】明知道自己不可能永久进入黑暗,但是,我坚持着;【暗】生命渐渐短暂,我踌躇不前,暗影的回归,我无能为力;【侵】邪恶的火焰还在侵袭,泪水也浇不灭的火花笼罩着宇宙;【蚀】战斗的烟火吞蚀着这里,光明的辉煌即将陨落……你,还要坚持吗?——米凯尔
  • 错吻成婚:金主狂爱999天

    错吻成婚:金主狂爱999天

    睡梦中,某人欺身而来,对她上下其手,亲亲揉揉。她惊醒,从枕头下拿出结婚协议:“沈先生,我们有协议,只结婚,不爱爱。”某人笑得狡黠,接过结婚协议瞥一眼,“结婚协议:只结婚,还爱爱!”她反抗挣扎,“你无赖,明明不是这样的!”某人坏笑,“光说不练假把式。”为辩真假,他亲力亲为用行动表示。事后,她才明白,协议神马是困不住腹黑狼的狼爪。而他,则用自己的方式,对她施以此生无尽的霸宠。
  • 一世樱落萧默然

    一世樱落萧默然

    花瓣随风摆动着轨迹,看着花瓣的眼睛突然渐渐的呆滞起来,心,便也沉静下来。久久听不到雷耀的话,苏歌突然又想自嘲起来,难道刚才只是自己的一厢情愿?也许是他的习惯逗弄小女生的伎俩?此刻,她的心有些慌了。思维和心脏完全不受自己的控制。
  • 福玉记

    福玉记

    另有作品《穿越之空间萌宝》碧落山上的女君,在下凡途中救了凡间帝王之子,开启了暖萌爆笑的剧情。欢迎关注吴团子的微博,“吴团子的日常”,看萌萌哒《福玉记》番外。那年阳光下他的微笑,惊艳了时光。而于花海翩翩起舞的身影,是他心中最柔软的记忆。每晚六点准时更新,大家可以放心入坑哈。如果你们喜欢,就支持一下团子啦!你们的支持就是团子的动力哦《穿越之空间萌宝》作为一只穿越女,她一穿越就要生孩子是要闹哪样?有个空间,空间里啥也没有,好不容易有两大萌物,却是妥妥的吃货!什么?你是孩子他爹?来得正好,本姑娘早就想削你了!这是一个女子穿越之后一脸懵逼,后来带着孩子过得风风火火的故事。
  • 黑桃A系统

    黑桃A系统

    一场杀人游戏中,一张诡异的黑桃A带来了一个神奇的系统,带给林建银不一样的人生。泡妞,打怪,升级,逆袭。只有你想不到,没有它做不到。在危机四伏的异世界副本中却仍然要注意身边人的身份,是杀手,警察,平民,还是无间道。在这里,没有永恒的合作,只有无尽的猜忌。