aning on the Cat, and the Cat who was blind was guided by the Fox.

"Good day, Pinocchio," said the Fox, accosting him politely.

"How do you come to know my name?" asked the puppet.

"I know your father well."

"Where did you see him?"

"I saw him yesterday at the door of his house."

"And what was he doing?"

"He was in his shirt sleeves and shivering with cold."

"Poor papa! But that is over; for the future he shall shiver no more."

"Why?"

"Because I am become a gentleman."

"A gentleman--you!" said the Fox, and he began to laugh rudely and
scornfully. The Cat also began to laugh, but to conceal it she combed
her whiskers with her forepaws.

"There is little to laugh at," cried Pinocchio angrily. "I am really
sorry to make your mouths water, but if you know anything about it,
you can see that here are five gold pieces."

And he pulled out the money that Fire-eater had made him a present of.

At the sympathetic ring of the money the Fox with an involuntary
movement stretched out the paw that had seemed crippled, and the cat
opened wide two eyes that looked like two green lanterns. It is true
that she shut them again, and so quickly that Pinocchio observed
nothing.

"And now," asked the Fox, "what are you going to do with all that
money?"

"First of all," answered the Puppet, "I intend to buy a new coat for
my papa, made of gold and silver, and with diamond buttons, and then I
will buy a spelling-book for myself."

"For yourself?"

"Yes, indeed, for I wish to go to school to study in earnest."

"Look at me!" said the Fox. "Through my foolish passion for study I
have lost a leg."

"Look at me!" said the Cat. "Through my foolish passion for study I
have lost the sight of both my eyes."

At that moment a white Blackbird, that was perched on the hedge by the
road, began his usual song, and said:

"Pinocchio, don't listen to the advice of bad companions; if you do
you will repent it!"

Poor Blackbird! If only he had not spoken! The Cat with a great leap
sprang upon him and without even giving him time to say "Oh!" ate him
in a mouthful, feathers and all.

Having eaten him and cleaned her mouth she shut her eyes again and
feigned blindness as before.

"Poor Blackbird!" said Pinocchio to the Cat. "Why did you treat him so
badly?"

"I did it to give him a lesson. He will learn another time not to
meddle in other people's conversation."

They had gone almost half-way when the Fox, halting