" But when
Pinocchio was at the most interesting moment, that is, just as he
was stretching out his hand to pick handfuls of those beautiful gold
pieces and put them in his pockets, he was suddenly wakened by three
violent blows on the door of his room.
It was the host who had come to tell him that midnight had struck.
"Are my companions ready?" asked the puppet.
"Ready! Why, they left two hours ago."
"Why were they in such a hurry?"
"Because the Cat had received a message to say that her eldest kitten
was ill with chilblains on his feet, and was in danger of death."
"Did they pay for supper?"
"What are you thinking of? They are too highly educated to dream of
offering such an insult to a gentleman like you."
"What a pity! It is an insult that would have given me so much
pleasure!" said Pinocchio, scratching his head. He then asked:
"And where did my good friends say they would wait for me?"
"At the Field of Miracles, to-morrow morning at daybreak."
Pinocchio paid a gold piece for his supper and that of his companions
and then he left.
Outside the inn it was so pitch dark that he had almost to grope his
way, for it was impossible to see a hand's breadth in front of him.
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