Page:Collodi - The Story of a Puppet, translation Murray, 1892.djvu/235

 'Believe me, Pinocchio, we are now poor and unfortunate indeed!'

'If you are poor, you deserve it. Recollect the proverb: "Stolen money never fructifies." Begone, impostors!'

And thus saying Pinocchio and Geppetto went their way in peace. When they had gone another hundred yards they saw, at the end of a path in the middle of the fields, a nice little straw hut with a roof of tiles and bricks.

'That hut must be inhabited by some one,' said Pinocchio. 'Let us go and knock at the door.'

They went and knocked.

'Who is there?' said a little voice from within.

'We are a poor father and son without bread and without a roof,' answered the puppet.

'Turn the key and the door will open,' said the same little voice.

Pinocchio turned the key and the door opened. They went in and looked here, there, and everywhere, but could see no one.

'Oh! where is the master of the house?' said Pinocchio, much surprised.

'Here I am up here!'

The father and son looked immediately up to the ceiling, and there on a beam they saw the Talking-cricket.

'Oh, my dear little Cricket!' said Pinocchio, bowing politely to him.