meat was scarce in Japan. He was not mistaken, but he could have
put up with wild boar even, partridges, quails, fish, or fowl, which
the Japanese eat almost exclusively with rice. However, he kept his
spirits up, and looked forward to a meal next day.

Night fell, and Passe-partout re-entered the native quarter, where he
wandered through the streets in the midst of coloured lanterns,
looking on at the conjurers, and at the astrologers, who had collected
a crowd round their telescopes. Then he wandered back to the harbour,
lighted up by the fishermen's torches.

At length the streets began to get empty, and to the crowd succeeded
the patrols. These officers, in their splendid uniforms and followed
by their attendants, looked like ambassadors; and every time
Passe-partout met one of these parties, he said to himself:

"Good, good; another Japanese embassy going to Europe."

CHAPTER XXIII.

In which Passe-partout's Nose gets immeasurably long.

Next morning, Passe-partout, very tired and very hungry, began to
think that he ought to eat something, and the sooner the better. He
still had his watch, which he could sell, but he would rather die of
hunger than do that; so now or never, he must make use of his
powerful, if not melodious, voice, with which nature had endowed him.
He knew several French and English songs, and resolved to make the
attempt. The Japanese were no doubt fond of music, since they were
always beating cymbals, tomtoms, and drums, and they would no doubt
appreciate European talent.

But perhaps it was somewhat early to start a concert, and the
_dilettanti_, awakened inopportunely, would not, perhaps, pay him in
current coin of the realm. So Passe-partout decided to wait; and
meantime it occurred to him that he might as well change his clothes
for some more in keeping with his present position, and afterwards he
might be able to purchase something to eat.

He immediately set about to carry out the idea, and after a long
search he discovered a dealer in old clothes, with whom he made an
exchange, and left the shop dressed in a Japanese robe and discoloured
turban; but he had some money in his pocket also.

"All right," he thought; "I must only fancy myself at a carnival."

Passe-partout's first care was to enter a quiet-looking tea-house, and
then, with a portion of fowl and some rice, he breakfasted like a man
who had not yet solved the problem as to where dinner was to come
from.