"Would you like a servant, sir?" asked Passepartout. "A servant!" cried Mr. Batulcar, caressing the thick grey beard which hung from his chin. "I already have two who are obedient and faithful, have never left me, and serve me for their nourishment--and here they are," added he, holding out his two robust arms, furrowed with veins as large as the strings of a bass viol. "So I can be of no use to you?" "None." "The devil! I should so like to cross the Pacific with you!" "Ah!" said the Honorable Mr. Batulcar. "You are no more a Japanese than I am a monkey! Why are you dressed up in that way?" "A man dresses as he can." "That's true. You are a Frenchman, aren't you?" "Yes. A Parisian of Paris." "Then you ought to know how to make grimaces?" "Why," replied Passepartout, a little vexed that his nationality should cause this question, "we Frenchmen know how to make grimaces, it is true--but not any better than the Americans do." "True. Well, if I can't take you as a servant, I can as a clown. You see, my friend, in France they exhibit foreign clowns, and in foreign parts French clowns." "Ah!" "You are pretty strong, eh?" "Especially after a good meal." "And you can sing?" "Yes," returned Passepartout, who had formerly sung in street concerts. "But can you sing standing on your head, with a top spinning on your left foot, and a sabre balanced on your right?" "Humph! I think so," replied Passepartout, recalling the exercises of his younger days. "Well, that's enough," said the Honorable William Batulcar. The engagement was concluded there and then. Passepartout had at last found something to do. He was engaged to act in the celebrated Japanese troupe. It was not a very dignified position, but within a week he would be on his way to San Francisco. The performance, so noisily announced by the Honorable Mr. Batulcar, was to commence at three o'clock, and soon the deafening instruments of a Japanese orchestra resounded at the door. Passepartout, though he had not been able to study or rehearse a part, was designated to lend the aid of his sturdy shoulders in the great exhibition of the "human pyramid," executed by the Long Noses of the god Tingou. This "great attraction" was to close the performance. Before three o'clock the large shed was crowded with spectators, Europeans and natives, Chinese and Japanese, men, women and children, who precipitated themselves upon the narrow benches and into the boxes opposite the stage. The musicians took up a position inside, and were vigorously performing on their gongs, tam-tams, flutes, bones, tambourines and immense drums. The performance was much like all acrobatic displays. But it must be confessed that the Japanese are the first equilibrists in the world.