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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 released 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 joicings. ‘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 prisoners 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.
