was　encased　in　a　blue　silk　covering；　which　was　to　protect
  it　from　the　rain。
  〃Come；　Medoro；〃　said　the　Fairy　to　him。　　〃Get　my
  best　coach　ready　and　set　out　toward　the　forest。　　On
  reaching　the　oak　tree；　you　will　find　a　poor；　half…dead
  Marionette　stretched　out　on　the　grass。　　Lift　him　up
  tenderly；　place　him　on　the　silken　cushions　of　the　coach；
  and　bring　him　here　to　me。〃
  The　Poodle；　to　show　that　he　understood；　wagged　his　silk…covered　tail
  two　or　three　times　and　set　off　at　a　quick　pace。
  In　a　few　minutes；　a　lovely　little　coach；　made　of　glass；
  with　lining　as　soft　as　whipped　cream　and　chocolate　pudding；
  and　stuffed　with　canary　feathers；　pulled　out　of　the
  stable。　　It　was　drawn　by　one　hundred　pairs　of　white　mice；
  and　the　Poodle　sat　on　the　coachman's　seat　and　snapped
  his　whip　gayly　in　the　air；　as　if　he　were　a　real　coachman
  in　a　hurry　to　get　to　his　destination。
  In　a　quarter　of　an　hour　the　coach　was　back。　　The
  Fairy；　who　was　waiting　at　the　door　of　the　house；　lifted
  the　poor　little　Marionette　in　her　arms；　took　him　to　a
  dainty　room　with　mother…of…pearl　walls；　put　him　to　bed；
  and　sent　immediately　for　the　most　famous　doctors　of　the
  neighborhood　to　come　to　her。
  One　after　another　the　doctors　came；　a　Crow；　and　Owl；
  and　a　Talking　Cricket。
  〃I　should　like　to　know；　signori；〃　said　the　Fairy；　turning
  to　the　three　doctors　gathered　about　Pinocchio's　bed；
  〃I　should　like　to　know　if　this　poor　Marionette　is　dead　or　alive。〃
  At　this　invitation；　the　Crow　stepped　out　and　felt
  Pinocchio's　pulse；　his　nose；　his　little　toe。
  Then　he　solemnly　pronounced　the　following　words：
  〃To　my　mind　this　Marionette　is　dead　and　gone；　but　if；
  by　any　evil　chance；　he　were　not；　then　that　would　be　a
  sure　sign　that　he　is　still　alive！〃
  〃I　am　sorry；〃　said　the　Owl；　〃to　have　to　contradict
  the　Crow；　my　famous　friend　and　colleague。　　To　my　mind
  this　Marionette　is　alive；　but　if；　by　any　evil　chance；　he
  were　not；　then　that　would　be　a　sure　sign　that　he　is　wholly　dead！〃
  〃And　do　you　hold　any　opinion？〃　the　Fairy　asked　the　Talking　Cricket。
  〃I　say　that　a　wise　doctor；　when　he　does　not　know　what　he
  is　talking　about；　should　know　enough　to　keep　his　mouth　shut。
  However；　that　Marionette　is　not　a　stranger　to　me。
  I　have　known　him　a　long　time！〃
  Pinocchio；　who　until　then　had　been　very　quiet；
  shuddered　so　hard　that　the　bed　shook。
  〃That　Marionette；〃　continued　the　Talking　Cricket；
  〃is　a　rascal　of　the　worst　kind。〃
  Pinocchio　opened　his　eyes　and　closed　them　again。
  〃He　is　rude；　lazy；　a　runaway。〃
  Pinocchio　hid　his　face　under　the　sheets。
  〃That　Marionette　is　a　disobedient　son　who　is　breaking
  his　father's　heart！〃
  Long　shuddering　sobs　were　heard；　cries；　and　deep　sighs。
  Think　how　surprised　everyone　was　when；　on　raising　the　sheets；
  they　discovered　Pinocchio　half　melted　in　tears！
  〃When　the　dead　weep；　they　are　beginning　to　recover；〃
  said　the　Crow　solemnly。
  〃I　am　sorry　to　contradict　my　famous　friend　and　colleague；〃
  said　the　Owl；　〃but　as　far　as　I'm　concerned；　I　think　that
  when　the　dead　weep；　it　means　they　do　not　want　to　die。〃
  CHAPTER　17
  Pinocchio　eats　sugar；　but　refuses　to　take　medicine。
  When　the　undertakers　come　for　him；　he　drinks　the　medicine　and　feels　better。
  Afterwards　he　tells　a　lie　and；　in　punishment；　his　nose　grows　longer　and　longer
  As　soon　as　the　three　doctors　had　left　the　room；　the　Fairy
  went　to　Pinocchio's　bed　and；　touching　him　on　the　forehead；
  noticed　that　he　was　burning　with　fever。
  She　took　a　glass　of　water；　put　a　white　powder　into
  it；　and；　handing　it　to　the　Marionette；　said　lovingly　to　him：
  〃Drink　this；　and　in　a　few　days　you'll　be　up　and　well。〃
  Pinocchio　looked　at　the　glass；　made　a　wry　face；　and
  asked　in　a　whining　voice：　　〃Is　it　sweet　or　bitter？〃
  〃It　is　bitter；　but　it　is　good　for　you。〃
  〃If　it　is　bitter；　I　don't　want　it。〃
  〃Drink　it！〃
  〃I　don't　like　anything　bitter。〃
  〃Drink　it　and　I'll　give　you　a　lump　of　sugar　to　take　the
  bitter　taste　from　your　mouth。〃
  〃Where's　the　sugar？〃
  〃Here　it　is；〃　said　the　Fairy；　taking　a　lump　from　a　golden
  sugar　bowl。
  〃I　want　the　sugar　first；　then　I'll　drink　the　bitter　water。〃
  〃Do　you　promise？〃
  〃Yes。〃
  The　Fairy　gave　him　the　sugar　and　Pinocchio；　after　chewing
  and　swallowing　it　in　a　twinkling；　said；　smacking　his　lips：
  〃If　only　sugar　were　medicine！　　I　should　take　it　every　day。〃
  〃Now　keep　your　promise　and　drink　these　few　drops
  of　water。　　They'll　be　good　for　you。〃
  Pinocchio　took　the　glass　in　both　hands　and　stuck　his
  nose　into　it。　　He　lifted　it　to　his　mouth　and　once　more
  stuck　his　nose　into　it。
  〃It　is　too　bitter；　much　too　bitter！　　I　can't　drink　it。〃
  〃How　do　you　know；　when　you　haven't　even　tasted　it？〃
  〃I　can　imagine　it。　　I　smell　it。　　I　want　another　lump　of
  sugar；　then　I'll　drink　it。〃
  The　Fairy；　with　all　the　patience　of　a　good　mother；　gave
  him　more　sugar　and　again　handed　him　the　glass。
  〃I　can't　drink　it　like　that；〃　the　Marionette　said；　making
  more　wry　faces。
  〃Why？〃
  〃Because　that　feather　pillow　on　my　feet　bothers　me。〃
  The　Fairy　took　away　the　pillow。
  〃It's　no　use。　　I　can't　drink　it　even　now。〃
  〃What's　the　matter　now？〃
  〃I　don't　like　the　way　that　door　looks。　　It's　half　open。〃
  The　Fairy　closed　the　door。
  〃I　won't　drink　it；〃　cried　Pinocchio；　bursting　out　crying。
  〃I　won't　drink　this　awful　water。　　I　won't。　　I　won't！
  No；　no；　no；　no！〃
  〃My　boy；　you'll　be　sorry。〃
  〃I　don't　care。〃
  〃You　are　very　sick。〃
  〃I　don't　care。〃
  〃In　a　few　hours　the　fever　will　take　you　far　away　to　another　world。〃
  〃I　don't　care。〃
  〃Aren't　you　afraid　of　death？〃
  〃Not　a　bit。　　I'd　rather　die　than　drink　that　awful　medicine。〃
  At　that　moment；　the　door　of　the　room　flew　open　and　in
  came　four　Rabbits　as　black　as　ink；　carrying　a　small　black
  coffin　on　their　shoulders。
  〃What　do　you　want　from　me？〃　asked　Pinocchio。
  〃We　have　come　for　you；〃　said　the　largest　Rabbit。
  〃For　me？　　But　I'm　not　dead　yet！〃
  〃No；　not　dead　yet；　but　you　will　be　in　a　few　moments
  since　you　have　refused　to　take　the　medicine　which　would
  have　made　you　well。〃
  〃Oh；　Fairy；　my　Fairy；〃　the　Marionette　cried　out；　〃give　me
  that　glass！　　Quick；　please！　　I　don't　want　to　die！
  No；　no；　not　yetnot　yet！〃
  And　holding　the　glass　with　his　two　hands；　he　swallowed
  the　medicine　at　one　gulp。
  〃Well；〃　said　the　four　Rabbits；　〃this　time　we　have　made
  the　trip　for　nothing。〃
  And　turning　on　their　heels；　they　marched　solemnly　out
  of　the　room；　carrying　their　little　black　coffin　and　muttering
  and　grumbling　between　their　teeth。
  In　a　twinkling；　Pinocchio　felt　fine。　　With　one　leap　he
  was　out　of　bed　and　into　his　clothes。
  The　Fairy；　seeing　him　run　and　jump　around　the　room
  gay　as　a　bird　on　wing；　said　to　him：
  〃My　medicine　was　good　for　you；　after　all；　wasn't　it？〃
  〃Good　indeed！　　It　has　given　me　new　life。〃
  〃Why；　then；　did　I　have　to　beg　you　so　hard　to　make
  you　drink　it？〃
  〃I'm　a　boy；　you　see；　and　all　boys　hate　medicine　more
  than　they　do　sickness。〃
  〃What　a　shame！　　Boys　ought　to　know；　after　all；　that
  medicine；　taken　in　time；　can　save　them　from　much　pain
  and　even　from　death。〃
  〃Next　time　I　won't　have　to　be　begged　so　hard。　　I'll
  remember　those　black　Rabbits　with　the　black　coffin　on
  their　shoulders　and　I'll　take　the　glass　and　pouf！down　it
  will　go！〃
  〃Come　here　now　and　tell　me　how　it　came　about　that
  you　found　yourself　in　the　hands　of　the　Assassins。〃
  〃It　happened　that　Fire　Eater　gave　me　five　gold　pieces
  to　give　to　my　Father；　but　on　the　way；　I　met　a　Fox　and　a
  Cat；　who　asked　me；　‘Do　you　want　the　five　pieces　to　become
  two　thousand？'　　And　I　said；　‘Yes。'　And　they　said；
  ‘Come　with　us　to　the　Field　of　Wonders。'　And　I　said；
  ‘Let's　go。'　Then　they　said；　‘Let　us　stop　at　the　Inn　of　the
  Red　Lobster　for　dinner　and　after　midnight　we'll　set　out
  again。'　We　ate　and　went　to　sleep。　　When　I　awoke　they
  were　gone　and　I　started　out　in　the　darkness　all　alone。　　On
  the　road　I　met　two　Assassins　dressed　in　black　coal　sacks；
  who　said　to　me；　‘Your　money　or　your　life！'　and　I　said；
  ‘I　haven't　any　money'；　for；　you　see；　I　had　put　the　money
  under　my　tongue。　　One　of　them　tried　to　put　his　hand　in
  my　mouth　and　I　bit　it　off　and　spat　it　out；　but　it　wasn't　a
  hand；　it　was　a　cat's　paw。　　And　they　ran　after　me　and　I
  ran　and　ran；　till　at　last　they　caught　me　and　tied　my　neck
  with　a　rope　and　hanged　me　to　a　tree；　saying；　‘Tomorrow
  we'll　come　back　for　you　and　you'll　be　dead　and　your
  mouth　will　be　open；　and　then　we'll　take　the　gold　pieces
  that　you　have　hidden　under　your　tongue。'〃
  〃Where　are　the　gold　pieces　now？〃　the　Fairy　asked。
  〃I　lost　them；〃　answered　Pinocchio；　but　he　told　a　lie；
  for　he　had　them　in　his　pocket。
  As　he　spoke；　his　nose；　long　though　it　was；　became　at
  least　two　inches　longer。
  〃And　where　did　you　lose　them？〃
  〃In　the　wood　near　by。〃
  At　this　second　lie；　his　nose　grew　a　few　more　inches。
  〃If　you　lost　them　in　the　near…by　wood；〃　said　the　Fairy；
  〃we'll　look　for　them　and　find　them；　for　everything　that　is
  lost　there　is　always　found。〃
  〃Ah；　now　I　remember；〃　replied　the　Marionette；
  becoming　more　and　more　confused。　　〃I　did　not　lose　the　gold
  pieces；　but　I　swallowed　them　when　I　drank　the　medicine。〃
  At　this　third　lie；　his　nose　became　longer　than　ever；
  so　long　that　he　could　not　even　turn　around。　　If　he　turned
  to　the　right；　he　knocked　it　against　the　bed　or　into