throw me into the flames. It is not right that my friend Harlequin should die for me!"
These words, pronounced in a loud and heroic tone made all the marionettes present, cry. Even the gendarmes, wooden though they were, cried like two little baby lambs. For a time Fire Eater remained hard and cold as ice, but slowly he began to melt, and to show signs of wanting to sneeze. After having sneezed four or five times he held out his arms to Pinocchio, saying, "You are a brave boy. Come here and give me a kiss."
Pinocchio ran and climbing like a squirrel up the beard of the manager, gave him a hearty kiss right on the point of his nose.
"Then I am saved?" asked Harlequin, in a little thin voice that could hardly be heard.
"Yes, you are saved" replied Fire Eater. Then he added, sighing, and shaking his head, "And tonight I must eat a half cooked supper. But another time, woe to anyone who changes my plans."
When the marionettes heard that Harlequin was saved they ran to the stage, lit all the lights as for a special holiday performance, and began to dance about merrily.
