Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/288

 quarter, and wandered in the streets in the midst of the many-colored lanterns, looking at the groups of dancers, executing their feats of agility, and the astrologers in the open air gathering the crowd around their telescopes. Then he saw again the harbor, relieved by the fires of many fishermen who were catching fish by the light of their torches.

Finally, the streets became empty. To the crowd succeeded the rounds of the patrolmen. These officers, in their magnificent costumes and in the midst of their suite, resembled ambassadors, and Passepartout repeated pleasantly, each time that he met some dazzling patrol, "Good, good! Another Japanese embassy starting for Europe!"

next day Passepartout, tired out and hungry, said to himself that he must eat at any cost, and the sooner the better. He had this resource, to sell his watch, but he would rather die of hunger. Now was the time, or never, for this good fellow to utilize the strong, if not melodious, voice with which nature had favored him.

He knew a few French and English airs, and he determined to try them. The Japanese ought certainly to be lovers of music, since everything with them was done to the sound of the cymbals, the tam-tams, and drums, and they could not but appreciate the talents of a European amateur.

But, perhaps, he was a little early to organize a concert, and the dilettanti, unexpectedly wakened, would, perhaps, not have paid the singer in money with the Mikado's likeness.

Passepartout decided, then, to wait a few hours; but in sauntering along the thought came to him that he would look too well dressed for a wandering artist, and the idea struck him to exchange his clothing for a suit more in harmony with his position. This exchange would besides produce a sum which he could immediately apply to satisfying his appetite.