Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: June 3, 2025
He makes one for each word I utter, as if he were a mechanical toy pulled by a string; when he is seated before me on the ground, he limits himself to a duck of the head always accompanied by the same hissing noise of the saliva. "A cup of tea, Monsieur Kangourou?" Fresh salute and an extra affected gesticulation with the hands, as if to say, "I should hardly dare.
But as I have now become thoroughly Japanized, to-day they appear to me more diminutive, less outlandish, and in no way mysterious. I treat them rather as dancers that I have hired, and the idea that I had ever thought of marrying one of them now makes me shrug my shoulders, as it formerly did M. Kangourou.
Then ensue long discourses in Japanese, arguments without end. M. Kangourou, who is laundryman and low scamp in French only, has returned for these discussions to the long formulas of his country.
M. Kangourou will come on board to-morrow to communicate to me the result of his first proceedings and to arrange with me for the interview. For the present he refuses to accept any remuneration; but I am to give him my washing, and to procure him the custom of my brother officers of the 'Triomphante. It is all settled. Profound bows they put on my boots again at the door.
M. Kangourou relates, without seeing anything wrong in it whatever, that formerly this talent was of great service to M. Sucre.
By this time, four officers of my ship are married like myself, and inhabiting the slopes of the same suburb. This arrangement is quite an ordinary occurrence, and is brought about without difficulties, mystery, or danger, through the offices of the same M. Kangourou. As a matter of course, we are on visiting terms with all these ladies.
The wish to laugh quits me suddenly, and instead, a profound chill fastens on my heart. What! share even an hour of my life with that little doll? Never! The next question is, how to get out of it? She advances smiling, with an air of repressed triumph, and behind her looms M. Kangourou, in his suit of gray tweed.
Let us seek among a less distinguished class of young persons, but without scars. And how about those on the other side of the screen, in those fine gold-embroidered dresses? For instance, the dancer with the spectre mask, Monsieur Kangourou? or again she who sings in so dulcet a strain and has such a charming nape to her neck?"
In reality, however, I am not charmed; it is only Chrysantheme, always Chrysantheme, nothing but Chrysantheme: a mere plaything to laugh at, a little creature of finical forms and thoughts, with whom the agency of M. Kangourou has supplied me.
M. Kangourou will come on board to-morrow to communicate to me the result of his first proceedings and to arrange with me for the interview. For the present he refuses to accept any remuneration; but I am to give him my washing, and to procure him the custom of my brother officers of the Triomphante. It is all settled. Profound bows, they put on my boots again at the door.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking