ve patience,' answered the son. 'My master thought it best to begin
with the language of animals, and later to learn the languages of human
beings.'

On their way into the house the dog ran to meet them, barking furiously.

'What can be the matter with the beast?' said the merchant. 'Why should
he bark at me like that, when he knows me quite well?'

'Shall I explain to you what he is saying?' said Bobino.

'Leave me in peace, and don't trouble me with your nonsense,' said the
merchant quite crossly. 'How my money has been wasted!'

A little later, as they sat down to supper, some frogs in a neighbouring
pond set up such a croaking as had never been heard. The noise so
irritated the merchant that he quite lost his temper and exclaimed:
'This only was wanting to add the last drop to my discomfort and
disappointment.'

'Shall I explain to you?' began Bobino.

'Will you hold your tongue with your explanations?' shouted the
merchant. 'Go to bed, and don't let me see your face again!'

So Bobino went to bed and slept soundly. But his father, who could not
get over his disappointment at the waste of his money, was so angry,
that he sent for two servants, and gave them orders, which they were to
carry out on the following day.

Next morning one of the servants awakened Bobino early, and made him get
into a carriage that was waiting for him. The servant placed himself on
the seat beside him, while the other servant rode alongside the carriage
as an escort. Bobino could not understand what they were going to do
with him, or where he was being taken; but he noticed that the servant
beside him looked very sad, and his eyes were all swollen with crying.

Curious to know the reason he said to him: 'Why are you so sad? and
where are you taking me?'

But the servant would say nothing. At last, moved by Bobino's
entreaties, he said: 'My poor boy, I am taking you to your death, and,
what is worse, I am doing so by the order of your father.'

'But why,' exclaimed Bobino, 'does he want me to die? What evil have I
done him, or what fault have I committed that he should wish to bring
about my death?'

'You have done him no evil,' answered the servant 'neither have you
committed any fault; but he is half mad with anger because, in all these
years of study, you have learnt nothing but the language of animals.
He expected something quite different from you, that is why he is
determined you shall die.'

'If that is the case, kil