The showman has sneezed, and that is a sign that
he pities you, and consequently you are saved."
For you must know that whilst most men when they feel compassion
for somebody either weep, or at least pretend to dry their eyes,
Fire-eater, on the contrary, had the habit of sneezing.
After he had sneezed, the showman, still acting the ruffian, shouted
to Pinocchio:
"Have done crying! Your lamentations have given me a pain in my
stomach ... I feel a spasm, that almost.... Etci! etci!" and he
sneezed again twice.
"Bless you!" said Pinocchio.
"Thank you! And your papa and your mamma, are they still alive?" asked
Fire-eater.
"Papa, yes: my mamma I have never known."
"Who can say what a sorrow it would be to your poor old father if I
was to have you thrown amongst those burning coals! Poor old man! I
compassionate him!... Etci! etci! etci!" and he sneezed three times.
"Bless you!" said Pinocchio.
"Thank you! All the same, some compassion is due to me, for you see I
have no more wood with which to finish roasting my mutton, and to tell
you the truth, under the circumstances you would have been of great
use to me! However, I have had pity on you, so I must have patience.
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