Here are five gold pieces. Go at once and take them to him with my compliments.'
You can easily understand that Pinocchio thanked the showman a thousand times. He embraced all the puppets of the company one by one, even to the gendarmes, and beside himself with delight set out to return home.
But he had not gone far when he met on the road a Fox lame of one foot, and a Cat blind of both eyes, who were going along helping each other like good companions in misfortune. The Fox who was lame walked leaning on the Cat, and the Cat who was blind was guided by the Fox.
'Good day, Pinocchio,' said the Fox, accosting him politely.
'How do you come to know my name?' asked the puppet.
'I know your father well.'
'Where did you see him?'
'I saw him yesterday at the door of his house.'
'And what was he doing?'
'He was in his shirt sleeves and shivering with cold.'
'Poor papa! But that is over; for the future he shall shiver no more! . . .'
'Why?'
'Because I am become a gentleman.'
'A gentleman—you!' said the Fox, and he began to laugh rudely and scornfully.
