For Phileas Fogg, a London aristocrat, the date of October 2, 1872, was very significant. And not because he hired a new servant that day, but because he made a bet with his friends. This bet not only changed his life but also became a topic that caused a great stir throughout England.
If anyone knew Phogg's personality, they would certainly know that he was not the type to place bets with others whenever the mood struck him. Anyone who saw Mr. Fogg always dressed in a suit and tie understood that he was a respectable person. No one knew the slightest thing about his life. He lived with his servant in a comfortable house and had neither a wife nor children. He had never worked but lived lavishly, with no one knowing where his money came from.
Phileas Fogg's schedule was almost the same every day. He was a member of a London club, and as he had done for many years, every morning at half-past eleven, he would go to the club, counting even his steps. At the club, he always sat at the same table for lunch, and after finishing his meal, he would glance at the newspapers and read a book. After enjoying a luxurious dinner, he would play bridge with his friends.
Every day he spent at least twelve hours at the club and did not return home before the clock struck midnight. Fogg not only strictly adhered to this disciplined way of life, but he also demanded that his servant do everything according to his rules. For example, when shaving, he had to use water at a temperature of exactly 31 degrees, but his last servant, Forster, always brought him water at 30 degrees. As expected, Forster was dismissed.
On October 2, his new servant would start working. He had told Phileas Fogg that he would arrive between eleven and half-past eleven in the morning. Before eleven, Phileas Fogg had already put on his suit, carefully tied his tie, and was sitting majestically in a chair in the sitting room, waiting for the arrival of the new servant.
