The proprietor, Fire Eater (for that was his name), looked fearful with his black beard covering his chest and legs like an apron; but he really was not a bad man. When he saw Pinocchio carried before him and crying, "I do not want to die! I do not want to die!" he began to pity him. He resisted the feeling for a little while, but when he could do so no longer he gave a terrible sneeze.

At that sound Harlequin, who until then had been afflicted and doubled up like a weeping willow, began to look more lively, and leaning toward Pinocchio, whispered to him softly, "Good news, brother! Our master has sneezed. That is a sign that he pities you, and now you are saved."

For you must know that while many men and women cry when they feel moved to pity, Fire Eater, instead, had the habit of sneezing. It was his way of letting others know the tenderness of his heart.

After having sneezed, the manager, still looking cross, cried to Pinocchio: "Stop crying! Your sobs distress me very much. I feel a spasm that nearly —etchi-etchi—" and he sneezed twice more.

"God bless you!" said Pinocchio.

"Thanks. And your papa and mamma are still living?" asked Fire Eater.

"My papa, yes; but I have never seen my mother."

"Oh, what a terrible thing it would have been for your papa if I had thrown you on the fire! Poor old man! I pity him —etchi-etchi-etchi—" and he sneezed three times more.

"God bless you!" said Pinocchio.

"Thanks. But some one must also pity me, because you see I have no more wood with which I can cook my meat; and you would have made a fine fire. But now that I am moved to pity for you, I must have patience. Instead of you I shall have to burn some one of my company. Ho! guards, come here!"

At this command two guards of wood appeared with soldier caps on their heads and swords by their sides. Then the manager said to them in a wheezing tone: "Bring me Harlequin, bound tightly, and then throw him on the fire. I want that roast cooked well."

Just imagine how poor Harlequin must have felt! He was so scared that his legs refused to support him, and he fell face downward on the floor. Pinocchio, at this most pitiful sight, threw himself at the feet of the manager, and, crying so hard that he wet the long, black beard of Fire Eater, said in a supplicating voice, "Pity, Mr. Fire Eater!"

"There are no Misters here," replied the manager in a dry tone.

"Pity, Mr. Cavalier!"

"There are no cavaliers here."

"Pity, Mr. Commander!"

"There are no commanders here."

"Pity, Your Excellency!"

At hearing himself called "Excellency" the manager immediately pursed up his lips and became more humane and tractable. He said to Pinocchio, "Well, what do you wish?"

"I ask pity for poor Harlequin."

"I have saved you, but I must put some one on the fire, so that my meat shall be well cooked."

"In that case," cried Pinocchio, proudly, straightening himself and throwing aside his cap of bread crumbs, — "in that case I know what my duty should be. Come, guards, bind me and throw me into the flames. No, it is not just that poor Harlequin, my true friend, should die for me!"

These words, pronounced in a loud tone and with heroic accents, made all the marionettes that were present at this scene cry. The guards, although made of wood, wept like two baby lambs.

Fire Eater at first remained hard and cold as a piece of ice; but afterward he slowly began to show symptoms of being moved and of sneezing. After having sneezed four or five times, he held out his arms to Pinocchio and said: "You are a brave boy. Come here and give me a kiss."

Pinocchio ran quickly, and, climbing like a squirrel up the beard of the manager, gave him a most beautiful kiss right on the point of his nose.

"Then I am free?" asked Harlequin, with a thin voice that could scarcely be heard.

"Yes, you are free," replied Fire Eater. Then he added, sighing and shaking his head: "To-night I will eat my supper half-cooked; but another time, woe to him who changes my plans!"

When the marionettes heard that Harlequin was free they ran to the stage, lit all the lights, just as if it were a grand holiday, and began to dance and jump. And they danced all night long.