Stranica 43 [43]
PINOCCHIO 33
. What do you want at such an hour?”
" Would you be kind enough to give me a
little bread? ”
. Wait there, I will be back directly,” said
the little old man, thinking he had to do with one
of those rascally boys who amuse themselves
at night by ringing the house bells to rouse
respectable people who are sleeping quietly.
After half a minute the window was again
opened, and the voice of the same little old man
shouted to Pinocchio:
. Come underneath and hold out your cap.”
Pinocchio pulled off his cap; but just as he
held it out an enormous basin of water was
poured down on him, watering him from head
to foot as if he had been a pot of dried-up
geraniums.
He returned home like a wet chicken quite
exhausted with fatigue and hunger; and hav¬
ing no longer strength to stand, he sat down |
and rested his damp and muddy feet on a
brazier full of burning embers.
And then he fell asleep; and whilst he slept
his feet, which were wooden, took fire, and
little by little they burnt away and became
cinders.
Pinocchio continued to sleep and to snore
as if his feet belonged to some one else. At
3