Oldal 117 [117]
PINOCCHIO 101
the gendarmes, to avoid losing time, stopped
up his mouth, and carried him off to the lock-up.
And there he remained for four months—
four long months—and he would have remained
longer still if a fortunate chance had not re¬
leased him. For I must tell you that the young
Emperor who reigned over the town of “ Trap
for blockheads,” having won a splendid victory
over his enemies, ordered great public re joic¬
ings. ‘There were illuminations, fire-works,
horse races, and velocipede races, and as a
further sign of triumph he commanded that
the prisons should be opened and all the pris¬
oners liberated.
" If the others are to be let out of prison,
I will go also,” said Pinocchio to the jailor.
‘No, not you,” said the jailor, ‘ because
you do not belong to the fortunate class.”
" I beg your pardon,” replied Pinocchio, “ I
am also a criminal.”
" In that case you are perfectly right,” said
the jailor; and taking off his hat and bowing
to him respectfully he opened the prison doors
and let him escape.