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100 PINOCCHIO
He rushed back to the town in a state of
desperation, and went at once to the Courts of
Justice to denounce the two knaves who had
robbed him to the judge.
The judge was a big ape of the gorilla
tribe—an old ape respectable for his age, his
white beard, but especially for his gold spec¬
tacles without glasses that he was obliged to
wear, on account of an inflammation of the
eyes that had tormented him for many years.
Pinocchio related in the presence of the
judge all the particulars of the infamous fraud
of which he had been the victim. He gave the
names, the surnames, and other details, of the
two rascals, and ended by demanding justice.
The judge listened with great benignity;
took a lively interest in the story; was much
touched and moved; and when the puppet had
nothing further to say stretched out his hand
and rang a bell.
At this summons two mastiffs immediately
appeared dressed as gendarmes. The judge
then, pointing to Pinocchio, said to them:
" That poor devil has been robbed of four
gold pieces; take him up, and put him imme¬
diately to prison.”
The puppet was petrified on hearing this
unexpected sentence, and tried to protest; but