"And what trade does he follow?"

"He is a beggar."

"Does he gain much?"

"Gain much? Why, he has never a penny in his pocket. Only think, in
order to buy a spelling-book so that I could go to school he was obliged
to sell the only coat he had to wear--a coat that, between patches and
darns, was not fit to be seen."

"Poor devil! I feel almost sorry for him! Here are five gold pieces. Go
at once and take them to him with my compliments."

Pinocchio was overjoyed and thanked the showman a thousand times. He
embraced all the puppets of the company one by one, even to the
gendarmes, and set out to return home.

But he had not gone far when he met on the road a Fox lame of one foot,
and a Cat blind of both eyes, and they were going along helping each
other like good companions in misfortune. The Fox, who was lame, walked
leaning on the Cat; and the Cat, who was blind, was guided by the Fox.

"Good-day, Pinocchio," said the Fox, greeting him politely.

"How do you come to know my name?" asked the puppet.

"I know your father well."