"
"For yourself?"
"Yes, indeed, for I wish to go to school to study in earnest."
"Look at me!" said the Fox. "Through my foolish passion for study I
have lost a leg."
"Look at me!" said the Cat. "Through my foolish passion for study I
have lost the sight of both my eyes."
At that moment a white Blackbird, that was perched on the hedge by the
road, began his usual song, and said:
"Pinocchio, don't listen to the advice of bad companions; if you do
you will repent it!"
Poor Blackbird! If only he had not spoken! The Cat with a great leap
sprang upon him and without even giving him time to say "Oh!" ate him
in a mouthful, feathers and all.
Having eaten him and cleaned her mouth she shut her eyes again and
feigned blindness as before.
"Poor Blackbird!" said Pinocchio to the Cat. "Why did you treat him so
badly?"
"I did it to give him a lesson. He will learn another time not to
meddle in other people's conversation."
They had gone almost half-way when the Fox, halting suddenly, said to
the puppet:
"Would you like to double your money?"
"In what way?"
"Would you like to make out of your five miserable gold pieces, a
hundred, a thousand, two thousand?"
"I should think so! But in what way?"
"The way is easy enough.
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