twenty-nine minutes past eleven o'clock
`` Excuse me , sir , that is impossible ! '' `` You are four minutes too slow . Never mind , it is enough to note the error . Now from this moment , twenty-nine minutes past eleven o'clock in the forenoon upon this 2nd of October , 1872 , you are in my service ! '' As he spoke , Phileas Fogg rose from his chair , took up his hat , put it on his head as an automaton might have done , and left the room without another word . Passe-partout heard the street-door shut ; it was his new master who had gone out . Shortly afterwards he heard it shut again -- that was his predecessor , James Forster , departing in his turn .