Page 203 - AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Around the World in 80 Days

‘What do you want?’ said he to Passepartout, whom he
at first took for a native.
‘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 Honourable Mr. Batulcar. ‘You are no
more a Japanese than I am a monkey! Who 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.’

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