Then, approaching Pinocchio, he caressed him, and among other things asked him: “How did you ever catch these four robbers? And to think that Bruno, my good and faithful Bruno, could not do it!”
The marionette then would have told all he knew about the shameful contract between the dog and the Polecats; but remembering that the dog was dead, he said to himself: “Why should I accuse the dead? The dead are dead and the best thing to do is to leave them in peace.”
“Were you asleep when the Polecats came into the yard?” asked the farmer.
“I was asleep,” replied Pinocchio, “but they awoke me with their chattering, and one came to my house and said: ‘If you promise not to bark and not to wake up the farmer, we will give you a nice fat chicken for a present.’ You understand? How could they have the face to say that to me? I am only a marionette and have all the vices of marionettes, but I never enter into a contract with thieves.”
“Brave boy!” cried the farmer, patting him on the shoulder. “These sentiments do you honor, and to prove to you my great satisfaction I leave you free to return to your house.”
And he took off the dog’s collar.
