目 录 上一节 下一节 
这时，路路通一心想去查询一下有没有开往美洲的邮船，他希望能到船上当一名厨师或侍者。他不要报酬，只要许他白坐船，又管饭就行。他先到旧金山，然后再说下一步怎么办。目前主要的问题是要想办法从日本到新大陆，想办法跨过太平洋上这四千七百海里的路程。 Passepartout was not the man to let an idea go begging, and directed his steps towards the docks. But, as he approached them, his project, which at first had seemed so simple, began to grow more and more formidable to his mind. What need would they have of a cook or servant on an American steamer, and what confidence would they put in him, dressed as he was? What references could he give? 路路通完全不是一个优柔寡断的人，他立即向横滨港口走去。但是，当他离码头越来越近的时候，他对那个自己最初觉得简而易行的计划就越来越感到没有把握了。人家凭什么需要我这样一个人到他们美国船上当厨师或侍者呢？我这么一身奇怪的打扮，人家凭什么会那么信任我呢？我有什么值得叫人家相信的介绍信呢？我能给人家提出什么证明文件或保证人呢？ As he was reflecting in this wise, his eyes fell upon an immense placard which a sort of clown was carrying through the streets. This placard, which was in English, read as follows: 当他正在这样苦思苦想的时候，他的视线忽然落在一张很大的海报上，这张海报正由一个似乎是马戏团小丑的人物背着，在横滨的大街上走来走去。海报上面用英文写着： ACROBATIC JAPANESE TROUPE, HONOURABLE WILLIAM BATULCAR, PROPRIETOR, LAST REPRESENTATIONS, PRIOR TO THEIR DEPARTURE TO THE UNITED STATES, OF THE LONG NOSES! LONG NOSES! UNDER THE DIRECT PATRONAGE OF THE GOD TINGOU! GREAT ATTRACTION! 尊贵的维廉·巴图尔卡先生的日本杂技团出国赴美公演之前，最后一次演出在天狗真神佑护下演出特别节目--鼻子长长鼻子--惊心动魄精采绝伦 "The United States!" said Passepartout; "that's just what I want!" “到美国去！”路路通叫着说，“这正是我想的事！……” 
于是，他就跟在这个背着海报的人后面，走了一会儿，又回到了辨天区。一刻钟后，他来到一个很大的马戏棚门口。棚上竖着一排排花花绿绿的旗子，墙壁外面画着一些杂技演员的肖像，这些画像都毫无立体感觉，但是色彩却非常鲜明醒目。 This was the Honourable William Batulcar's establishment. That gentleman was a sort of Barnum, the director of a troupe of mountebanks, jugglers, clowns, acrobats, equilibrists, and gymnasts, who, according to the placard, was giving his last performances before leaving the Empire of the Sun for the States of the Union. 这里就是尊贵的巴图尔卡先生的杂技团剧场，他是一位美国巴尔努式的杂技团经理。他手下有一大批演员。其中有跳板演员、杂技演员、小丑、魔术师、平衡技巧演员和体操演员。按照海报上说今天是他们离开这个太阳帝国到美国去以前的最后一次演出。 Passepartout entered and asked for Mr. Batulcar, who straightway appeared in person. 路路通走进了马戏棚前面的圆往回廊，要求见一见巴图尔卡先生。巴图尔卡亲自出来了。 "What do you want?" said he to Passepartout, whom he at first took for a native. “你找我干什么？”巴图尔卡问道，他这时把路路通当成个日本人了。 "Would you like a servant, sir?" asked Passepartout. “您需要一个佣人吗？”路路通问。 
“一个佣人？”这个马戏班经理拈着他那下颚上毛茸茸的灰胡子说，“我这里有两个佣人，都很忠实，很听话，他们从来也没有离开过我，他们给我工作也不要工钱，我只要给他们饭吃就行，……喏，你瞧！”他说着就举起了自己的两只粗胳臂，上面鼓着一条条的青筋，活象低音提琴上的粗弦一样。 "So I can be of no use to you?" “那么，就是说，我对你一点用也没有了？” "None." “一点也用不着。” "The devil! I should so like to cross the Pacific with you!" “倒霉！可是，跟你一道去美国对于我倒是挺合适的。” "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?" “啊，原来是这么回事！”尊贵的巴图尔卡先生说，“你这身打扮要说是象个日本人，那我就可以说自己象个猴子了。你干吗要穿这样的行头啊？” 
“能穿什么就穿什么呗！” "That's true. You are a Frenchman, aren't you?" “这倒是实话，你是法国人吗？” "Yes; a Parisian of Paris." “对了，道地的巴黎人。” "Then you ought to know how to make grimaces?" “那么，不用说您一定会装腔作势喽？” "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." 路路通发现别人因为自己是法国人竟得出这样的结论，实在有点恼火，他说：“不错，我们有些法国人确实是会装腔作势，但是比起你们美国人来那还是小巫见大巫啊！” 
“对！好吧，即使我不能雇你作佣人，我可以请你当我们杂技团的小丑。老兄，您明白吗？在法国你们扮演外国小丑；可是在外国，人家都扮演法国小丑。” "Ah!" “哦！” "You are pretty strong, eh?" “再说，你的身体也挺棒，不是吗？” "Especially after a good meal." “是挺棒，特别是吃饱了以后就更棒。” "And you can sing?" “你会唱吗？” 
“会啊！”这个过去曾经在街头卖过唱的路路通说。 "But can you sing standing on your head, with a top spinning on your left foot, and a sabre balanced on your right?" “可是你会不会脑袋向下两脚朝天唱歌？并且在左脚心上放一个滴溜溜转的响陀螺，右脚心上直立着一把军刀，这你会不会？” "Humph! I think so," replied Passepartout, recalling the exercises of his younger days. “会！”路路通回答说。他这时记起了年轻时所受的那些基本训练。 "Well, that's enough," said the Honourable William Batulcar. “你看吧，我要请你干的就是这些事！”尊贵的巴图尔卡先生说。 The engagement was concluded there and then. 雇用合同就这样当场谈妥了。 
路路通总算找到了工作。他在这个有名的日本杂技团算是个“百搭”，什么都干。这本来不是一个什么好差事，不过一个星期之后他就能坐着船去旧金山了。 The performance, so noisily announced by the Honourable 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. 尊贵的巴图尔卡先生大张旗鼓宣传的表演节目，将在下午三点钟开始。这时，在大门口开始了锣鼓喧天的日本乐队大合奏。显然，路路通今天不可能马上就扮演角色。但是今天需要他用自己那结实有力的双肩为“叠罗汉”的演员们出一臂之力。这个节目是由“天狗”神长鼻演员们来表演的，这个扣人心弦的精彩节目是今天全部演出节目的压轴戏。 Before three o'clock the large shed was invaded by the spectators, comprising 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. 不到三点钟，大批的观众已经涌进了这座宽敞的马戏棚。其中有本地人、有欧洲人、有中国人、也有日本人；有男人、有女人还有小孩子。一个个都争先恐后地在那些狭长的椅子上，或者在舞台对面的包厢里坐下来了。大门口的吹鼓手也撤到里头来了。乐队到齐，铜锣、堂锣、快板、竖笛、小铜鼓、大洋鼓都翻天覆地地吹打起来了。 The performance was much like all acrobatic displays; but it must be confessed that the Japanese are the first equilibrists in the world. 演出的节目和一般杂技团演出的大致相同，但是必须承认：日本的杂技演员是世界上第一流的演员。
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