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"Ask that of a man who is doing a tour of the globe, and who would never get through a signature of a name of that length!" "Then I can only think of Pan-Chao, unless we try Popof " "Either would do it with pleasure. But there is no hurry, Mr. Ephrinell, and when you get to Pekin you will have no difficulty in finding a fourth witness." "What! to Pekin?
The noble Venetian was a bachelor, if I am not mistaken, but I do not think he gives any opinion on marriage, at least I have no recollection of its being in the chapter headed "Safe and easy means of promptly remedying the different accidents that threaten life." "And," added Pan-Chao, who has just quoted this Cornarian phrase, "I suppose marriage ought to be included among those accidents!"
Across this undulating country the gradients are occasionally rather steep. Seven hundred kilometres separate us from the important city of Lan-Tcheou, where we ought to arrive to-morrow morning, running thirty miles an hour. I remarked to Pan-Chao that this average was not a high one. "What would you have?" he replied, crunching the watermelon seeds.
I first asked Major Noltitz, who willingly agreed to be Miss Bluett's witness. "These Yankees are astonishing," he said to me. "Precisely because they are astonished at nothing, major." I made a similar proposition to Pan-Chao. "Delighted, Monsieur Bombarnac," he replied. "I will be the witness of this adorable and adored Miss Bluett!
Beyond the Kara Nor, where a few towns appear, the approach to China Proper, populous and laborious, becomes more evident. This part of the desert of Gobi has little resemblance to the regions of Eastern Turkestan we crossed on leaving Kachgar. These regions are as new to Pan-Chao and Doctor Tio-King as to us Europeans. I should say that Faruskiar no longer disdains to mingle in our conversation.
He wanted to learn a few words of Chinese, and Pan-Chao having told him that "tching-tching" means thanks, he has been tching-tchinging at every opportunity, with burlesque intonation.
And then in laudatory terms, which Pan-Chao translated to us, he thanked Faruskiar, complimented him, and gave him to understand that the Son of Heaven would reward him for his services. The manager of the Grand Transasiatic listened with that tranquil air that distinguished him, not without impatience, as, I could clearly see.
"Not in the least, Monsieur Bombarnac; all I know is the name on the luggage." "What is that?" "The younger man's name is Pan-Chao, the elder's is Tio-King. Probably they have been traveling in Europe for some years. As to saying where they come from, I cannot. I imagine that Pan-Chao belongs to some rich family, for he is accompanied by his doctor." "This Tio-King?" "Yes, Doctor Tio-King."
Ephrinell, who thought no more of his marriage than if he had never thought about it, devoted strict attention to business. Pan-Chao was second to nobody, and even Doctor Tio-King strove to make himself useful in the fashion of the celebrated Auguste, the fly on the chariot wheel. "It is hot, this Gobi sun!" said Caterna.
The Reverend Nathaniel Morse, in announcing that the marriage will take place at nine o'clock, presents the compliments of Mr. Ephrinell and Miss Bluett. Major Noltitz and I, Caterna and Pan-Chao are under arms at the time stated. Caterna did not think it his duty to resume his costume, nor did his wife.
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