He rushed back to the town in a state of desperation and went at once to the Courts of Justice to denounce the two knaves who had robbed him to the judge.

The judge was a big ape of the gorilla tribe, an old ape respectable for his age, his white beard, but especially for his gold spectacles without glasses that he was always obliged to wear, on account of an inflammation of the eyes that had tormented him for many years.

Pinocchio related in the presence of the judge all the particulars of the infamous fraud of which he had been the victim.  He gave the names, the surnames, and other details, of the two rascals, and ended by demanding justice.

The judge listened with great benignity; took a lively interest in the story; was much touched and moved; and when the puppet had nothing further to say he stretched out his hand and rang a bell.

At this summons two mastiffs immediately appeared dressed as gendarmes.  The judge then, pointing to Pinocchio, said to them: 

“That poor devil has been robbed of four gold pieces; take him away and put him immediately into prison.”

The puppet was petrified on hearing this unexpected sentence and tried to protest; but the gendarmes, to avoid losing time, stopped his mouth and carried him off to the lockup.

And there he remained for four months—­four long months—­and he would have remained longer still if a fortunate chance had not released him.  The young Emperor who reigned over the town of “Trap for Blockheads,” having won a splendid victory over his enemies, ordered great public rejoicings.  There were illuminations, fireworks, horse races and velocipede races, and as a further sign of triumph he commanded that the prisons should be opened and all the prisoners freed.

“If the others are to be let out of prison, I will go also,” said Pinocchio to the jailor.

“No, not you,” said the jailor, “because you do not belong to the fortunate class.”

“I beg your pardon,” replied Pinocchio, “I am also a criminal.”

“In that case you are perfectly right,” said the jailor, and, taking off his hat and bowing to him respectfully, he opened the prison doors and let him escape.

CHAPTER XX

PINOCCHIO STARTS BACK TO THE FAIRY’S HOUSE

You can imagine Pinocchio’s joy when he found himself free.  Without stopping to take breath he immediately left the town and took the road that led to the Fairy’s house.

On account of the rainy weather the road had become a marsh into which he sank knee-deep.  But the puppet would not give in.  Tormented by the desire of seeing his father and his little sister with blue hair again, he ran on like a greyhound, and as he ran he was splashed with mud from head to foot.  And he said to himself as he went along:  “How many misfortunes have happened to me.  But I deserved them, for I am an obstinate, passionate puppet.