Stranica 214 [214]
OCR
XXXITI PINOCCHIO, HAVING BECOME A GENUINE LITTLE DONKEY, IS TAKEN TO BE SOLD, AND IS BOUGHT BY THE DIRECTOR OF A COMPANY OF BUFFOONS TO BE TAUGHT TO DANCE, AND TO JUMP THROUGH HOOPS: BUT ONE EVENING HE LAMES HIMSELF, AND THEN HE IS BOUGHT BY A MAN WHO PURPOSES TO MAKE A DRUM OF HIS SKIN \INDING that the door remained shut the little man burst it open with a violent kick, and coming into the room he said to Pinocchio and Candlewick with his usual little laugh: ‘Well done, boys! You brayed well, and I recognised you by your voices. That is why I am here.” At these words the two little donkeys were quite stupefied, and stood with their heads down, their ears lowered, and their tails between their legs. At first the little man stroked and caressed them; then taking out a currycomb he currycombed them well. And when by this process he had polished them till they shone like two mirrors, he put a halter round their necks and led them to the market-place, in hopes of selling them and making a good profit. 192
