as he did so: "When we get home I shall punish you. Be sure of that."
Pinocchio, at this threat threw himself on the ground, and would not go another step. In the meantime a crowd of idlers began to gather around them. "Poor marionette," said one of them, "No wonder he does not want to go back to his home. Who knows how hard old Geppetto beats him?" And others added maliciously: "That Geppetto appears to be a kind man, but he is a tyrant with boys. If he gets that poor marionette in his hands, he will break him apart.”
Finally they made so much noise that the soldier set Pinocchio free and took poor old Geppetto to prison. The old man could not find words at first, to defend himself, and wept bitterly, but as he was led away to prison he stammered out: "Wicked boy! And to think I tried so hard to make him a good marionette! But it served me right. I ought to have known at first that this would happen."
What happened after is a story so strange that it is almost beyond all belief, but still I will relate it to you.
