“And have you nothing to say?” said the Fairy to the Talking Cricket.
“I say that a prudent doctor should be quiet when he does not know what to say. Besides, that marionette has a familiar face. I know him a little.”
Pinocchio, who until then had been as immovable as a piece of wood, began to tremble so violently that he shook the bed.
“That marionette,” continued the Talking Cricket, “is a good for nothing.”
Pinocchio opened his eyes and then closed them suddenly.
“He is a scamp, a rogue, a vagabond.”
Pinocchio hid his face under the covers.
“That marionette is a disobedient child who is killing his poor papa.”
At this point crying and sobbing were heard in the room. Imagine how surprised everybody was when the covers were pulled down and the crying and sobbing were found to come from Pinocchio!
“When the dead cry,” said the Crow, “it is a sign that they are on the road to recovery.”
“It grieves me to contradict my illustrious friend and colleague,” added the Owl, “but to my mind, when the dead cry it is a sign that they do not want to die.”
