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46 PINOCCHIO
“ It is beginning now.”
" How much does it cost to go in?”
" Twopence."
Pinocchio, who was in a fever of curiosity,
lost all control of himself, and without any ¬
shame he said to the boy to whom he was talking:
" Would you lend me twopence until to¬
morrow? "
" I would lend them to you willingly,” said
the other, taking him off, “ but it so happens
that to-day I cannot give them to you.”
“T will sell you my jacket for twopence,”
the puppet then said to him.
“What do you think that I could do with
a jacket of flowered paper? If there was rain
and it got wet, it would be impossible to get it
off my back.”
“Will you buy my shoes? ”
“They would only be of use to light the
fire.”
‘How much will you give me for my cap? ”
" That would be a wonderful acquisition in¬
deed! A cap of bread crumb! There would be
a risk of the mice coming to eat it whilst it was
on my head.”
Pinocchio was on thorns. He was on the
point of making another offer, but he had not
the courage. He hesitated, felt irresolute and
remorseful. At last he said: