r I am determined that my mutton shall be well
roasted."

"In that case," cried Pinocchio proudly, rising and throwing away his
cap of bread crumb "in that case I know my duty. Come on, gendarmes!
Bind me and throw me amongst the flames. No, it is not just that poor
Harlequin, my true friend, should die for me!"

These words, pronounced in a loud heroic voice, made all the puppets
who were present cry. Even the gendarmes, although they were made of
wood, wept like two newly-born lambs.

Fire-eater at first remained as hard and unmoved as ice, but little by
little he began to melt and to sneeze. And having sneezed four or five
times, he opened his arms affectionately, and said to Pinocchio:

"You are a good brave boy! Come here and give me a kiss."

Pinocchio ran at once, and climbing like a squirrel up the showman's
beard he deposited a hearty kiss on the point of his nose.

"Then the pardon is granted?" asked poor Harlequin in a faint voice
that was scarcely audible.

"The pardon is granted!" answered Fire-eater. He then added, sighing
and shaking his head:

"I must have patience! To-night I shall have to resign myself to eat
the mutton half raw; but another time, woe to him who chances!"

At the news of the pardon all the puppets ran to the stage, and having
lighted the lamps and chandeliers as if for a full-dress performance,
they began to leap and to dance merrily. At dawn they were still
dancing.

VI

THE SHOWMAN BECOMES GENEROUS

The following day Fire-eater called Pinocchio to one side and asked
him:

"What is your father's name?"

"Geppetto."

"And what trade does he follow?"

"He is a beggar."

"Does he gain much?"

"Gain much? Why, he has never a penny in his pocket. Only think, to
buy a spelling-book for me to go to school, he was obliged to sell the
only coat he had to wear--a coat that between patches and darns was
not fit to be seen."

"Poor devil! I feel almost sorry for him! Here are five gold pieces.
Go at once and take them to him with my compliments."

You can easily understand that Pinocchio thanked the showman a
thousand times. He embraced all the puppets of the company one by
one, even to the gendarmes, and beside himself with delight set out to
return home.

But he had not gone far when he met on the road a Fox lame in one
foot, and a Cat blind in both eyes, who were going along helping each
other like good companions in misfortune. The Fox who was lame walked
le