Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Passepartout's Nose Becomes Very Long

The next day, Passepartout was hungry and tired. He said to himself, no matter what happens, he must find a way to eat first, the sooner the better!In fact, he still has a way out, which is to sell his watch, but he would rather starve to death than sell the watch.However, for this capable young man, now is also an opportunity, or it can be said to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that is, to sell along the street with his talented singing voice that is not very beautiful but powerful. He knew some French and English clichés quite well, so he decided to try them out.It seems that the Japanese must love music, since they are used to the sound of cymbals, gongs and drums here, they must also appreciate the voice of a European vocalist.

However, if he started singing immediately, it seemed that it was too early, and those fans who were woken up by him probably would not take out coins with the emperor's portrait as rewards to the singer. Passepartout decided to wait a few more hours, but as he was walking, it occurred to him that it would be better if he put on a charlatan's clothes.At this time, he thought of changing his suit for a suit that was more suitable for his current status. Besides, if he exchanged his suit for a suit, he would definitely get some money back, so he could have a full meal immediately. . The idea is settled, the remaining question is how to do it.Passepartout looked for the boss for a long time before he found a Japanese clothing estimate shop.He explained his purpose to the shopkeeper, who liked his suit very much.In a few moments Passepartout came out of the appraiser in an old kimono and a patterned turban faded with age, with a few found pieces jingling in his pocket. silver.

"Brilliant!" said Passepartout to himself, "it seems to me that it's a festival now!" The first thing this young man dressed as a Japanese is to walk into a small tea and rice shop, where he ordered some chicken and duck meat and made some rice. Just like the people who had a meal, they lived frugally and finished the breakfast with improvisation. When he had filled his stomach, he said to himself: "Now I can't live in a daze! If I sell this suit again and want to change it to a more Japanese one, that's Impossible. So I must quickly find a way to leave this country of the sun as soon as possible. This place is nothing but a bad memory for me!"

At this time, Passepartout wanted to check whether there was a cruise ship bound for America. He hoped to be a cook or waiter on board.He didn't want any reward, as long as he was allowed to take the boat for free and take care of the food.He went to San Francisco first, and then said what to do next.The main problem at present is to find a way to get from Japan to the New World, and find a way to cross the 4,700 nautical miles in the Pacific Ocean. Passepartout, far from being a man of indecision, set off at once for the port of Yokohama.But as he got closer to the pier, he felt less and less sure of a plan that he had initially thought was simple and easy.Why do people need a person like me to be a cook or waiter on their American ship?I am dressed so strangely, why do people trust me so much?What letters of introduction do I have that can be trusted?What supporting documents or guarantors can I provide for others?

When he was thinking hard like this, his eyes suddenly fell on a large poster, which was being carried by a figure who seemed to be a circus clown, walking up and down the streets of Yokohama .The poster reads in English: Venerable Mr. William Baturka's Japanese Acrobatic Troupe performed a special program under the protection of Tengu God for the last time before going abroad to perform in the United States - long nose long nose - Thrilling and Brilliant "To America!" cried Passepartout, "that's what I'm thinking of! . . . " So, he followed the person carrying the poster, walked for a while, and returned to the Biantian District.A quarter of an hour later, he came to the door of a large circus shed.Rows of colorful flags are erected on the shed, and some portraits of acrobats are painted on the outside of the walls. These portraits have no three-dimensional feeling, but the colors are very bright and eye-catching.

Here is the circus theater of the venerable Mr. Baturka, an American Barnus-style circus manager.He has a large number of actors under him.Among them are springboarders, acrobats, clowns, magicians, balance performers and gymnasts.According to the poster, today is their last performance before leaving Empire of the Sun to go to America. Passepartout entered the circular gallery in front of the circus, and asked to see Mr. Baturka.Baturka himself came out. "What do you want from me?" asked Baturka, who now took Passepartout for a Japanese. "Do you want a servant?" asked Passepartout.

"A servant?" said the circus manager, stroking his shaggy gray beard. "I have two servants here. They are faithful and obedient. They never leave me. They give me work." No wages, I just need to feed them...here, look!" He raised his two thick arms with veins bulging like the thick strings on a double bass. Same. "So, that means I'm of no use to you?" "It doesn't help at all." "Unlucky! But going to America with you would suit me very well." "Ah, that's what happened!" said the honorable Mr. Baturka. "If you dress like a Japanese, I can say I look like a monkey. Why do you wear such outfits?" what?"

"Wear whatever you can!" "That's true. Are you French?" "By the way, true Parisian." "Then it goes without saying that you must be putting on airs?" Passepartout, finding it somewhat annoying that others should have drawn such conclusions because he was French, said: "It's true that some of us French do put on airs, but that's nothing compared to you Americans!" "Yes! Well, even if I can't hire you as a servant, I can ask you to be a clown in our circus. Do you understand, brother? In France you play foreign clowns; but in foreign countries they play French clowns."

"Oh!" "Besides, you're in pretty good shape, aren't you?" "It's pretty good, especially when you're full." "Can you sing?" "Yes!" said Passepartout, who used to sell and sing on the street. "But can you sing with your head down and your feet up to the sky? And put a spinning top on the sole of your left foot, and a saber standing upright on the sole of your right foot, can you?" "Yes!" replied Passepartout.He now remembered the basic training of his youth. "You see, these are the things I ask you to do!" said the venerable Mr. Baturka.

The employment contract was negotiated on the spot. Passepartout at last found work.In this famous Japanese acrobatic troupe, he is considered "all-rounder" and can do everything.It wasn't a good job, but in a week he'd be sailing to San Francisco. The much-publicized program of the Honorable Mr. Baturka will begin at three o'clock in the afternoon.At this time, a large ensemble of Japanese bands with loud gongs and drums began at the gate. Obviously, Passepartout could not immediately play a role today.But today he needs to use his strong shoulders to help the actors of "Stacking Arhats".This show is performed by the "Tengu" god long-nosed actors. This exciting and wonderful show is the finale of all the performances today.

Before three o'clock, a large number of spectators had poured into the spacious circus shed.Among them were locals, Europeans, Chinese, and Japanese; men, women, and children.Everyone scrambled to sit down on those long and narrow chairs, or in the box on the opposite side of the stage.The drummer at the gate also withdrew inside.When the band arrived, the gongs, hall gongs, allegro, clarinets, small bronze drums, and ocean drums were all played upside down. The programs performed are roughly the same as those performed by general acrobatic troupes, but it must be admitted that Japanese acrobats are the top performers in the world.One actor, with a fan and scraps of paper in his hand, performed a very beautiful "Dance of Butterflies"; A lot of green smoke words are quickly written, and these words form a tribute to the audience; there is also a parabolic actor, who throws several lighted candles from his hand in turn, and throws each one from his hand. He blew out the candles that passed before his mouth, and lit them again one after another, without stopping for a second in his miraculous throwing motion.There is also an actor who plays with spring tops. He makes those tops rotate so skillfully that it is unbelievable to watch them. Under his control, these buzzing tops seem to be spinning Non-stop living little animals, they can spin and run on pipe rods, saber blades, and those hair-thin steel wires pulled on the stage, they can surround several large crystal bottles Turning in circles, they can climb bamboo ladders, run around in all directions, and make various noises at the same time.It sounds very harmonious.When the actors are performing, they also make the top spin and fly in mid-air.The actors used wooden rackets to hit these tops like badmintons. The tops kept spinning. The actors finally put the tops in their pockets, but when they took them out again, the tops were still spinning. , until one of the mainsprings inside is completely unwound, the top will stop moving at this time, and it will spread out like bunches of open paper flowers. Here, we don't need to describe the stunts of the various actors of the acrobatic troupe. Whether it is climbing a ladder, climbing a high pole, playing a big ball, or rolling a barrel, every show is very good anyway.But the most intriguing performances were those of the thrilling "long nose" performers, a feat never seen before in Europe. These "Long Nose" are a special "Long Nose" squad formed under the direct protection of Tengu God.They wear costumes like medieval heroes, with two gorgeous fake wings on their shoulders, but the most special place is the long nose on their faces.Especially the performance they performed with this kind of nose is simply amazing.These false noses are only made of bamboo, and some of them are five or six feet long, and some are as long as ten feet.Some of their shapes are straight, some are curved, some are smooth and neat, and some are lumpy.And these actors are performing stunts on these well-fitted fake noses.First there are a dozen or three of these "tengu gods" lying on their backs on the stage, and then there are other long-nosed companions jumping on top of their upright noses like lightning rods, on which they jump , leaping, performing various unbelievable stunts back and forth from nose to nose. Finally, the stage solemnly announced to the audience that the grand finale, "Stacked Arhats", was about to be performed.This "Arhat Tower" will be built by more than 50 long-nosed actors.But the actors of the venerable Mr. Baturka do not stack the "Arhat" with their shoulders, but only support this huge human structure with their false noses!As the bottom performer for "Arhat" had recently passed away, and the bottom job required both physical strength and quick wit, Passepartout had been chosen for the part. To tell the truth, when Passepartout put on this middle-aged costume, put on two colorful fake wings, and put a six-foot nose on his face, this decent boy couldn't help thinking of his youth. During those difficult years, I naturally have infinite emotions in my heart!But then again, the nose in front of him was the guy who made money for him, so he decided to be an actor with a long nose. At this time, Passepartout stepped onto the stage and stood together with his partners who were going to be the bottom of the "Arhat Tower" like him.Everyone lay down on the ground together, each with their long noses up to the sky.Then, the actors on the second floor came over and lay down on the tips of their noses; the actors on the third floor followed and lay on the noses of the actors on the second floor, and the actors on the fourth floor were also prepared according to the law.After a while, this tower of living beings supported only by the tip of their noses was already as high as the ceiling on the stage. At this time, there was a storm of applause from the audience; thunderous music was played on the stage.At this moment, "Arhat Tower" suddenly shook, and saw a long nose at the bottom left its post, "Human Tower" immediately lost its balance, and only heard a "plop plop", "Arhat Tower" "It's like a castle made of paper fell down... It was Passepartout's fault!It was he who left his post without authorization.Although he didn't flap his wings at all, he had already flown over the low fence on the stage, climbed onto the box on the right side of the stage, and fell down at the feet of an audience member, yelling: "Ah, my master, I have found you!" "It's you?!" "it's me!" "Well, then, come on, get on board! My lad..." Passepartout followed Mr. Fogg and Mrs. Aouda quickly through the corridors and out of the arena.That's when they come face to face with a furious Mr Baturka, who is demanding damages for the collapse of the "Arhat Tower".Mr. Phileas Fogg tossed him a handful of banknotes, and Mr. Baturka's anger was at once assuaged. At half-past six, Mr. Fogg and Mrs. Aouda embarked on board the American Mailer.Passepartout followed until the moment of departure, before the wings on his shoulders and the six-foot false nose had time to come off his face.