Chapter 10

           Quickasaflash,PinocchiodisappearedintotheMarionetteTheater.Andthensomethinghappenedwhichalmostcausedariot. 

           Thecurtainwasupandtheperformancehadstarted. 

           HarlequinandPulcinellawererecitingonthestageand,asusual,theywerethreateningeachotherwithsticksandblows. 

           Thetheaterwasfullofpeople,enjoyingthespectacleandlaughingtilltheycriedattheanticsofthetwoMarionettes. 

           Theplaycontinuedforafewminutes,andthensuddenly,withoutanywarning,Harlequinstoppedtalking.Turningtowardtheaudience,hepointedtotherearoftheorchestra,yellingwildlyatthesametime: 

           "Look,look!AmIasleeporawake?OrdoIreallyseePinocchiothere?" 

           "Yes,yes!ItisPinocchio!"screamedPulcinella. 

           "Itis!Itis!"shriekedSignoraRosaura,peekinginfromthesideofthestage. 

           "ItisPinocchio!ItisPinocchio!"yelledalltheMarionettes,pouringoutofthewings. "ItisPinocchio.ItisourbrotherPinocchio!HurrahforPinocchio!" 

           "Pinocchio,comeuptome!"shoutedHarlequin."Cometothearmsofyourwoodenbrothers!" 

           Atsuchalovinginvitation,Pinocchio,withoneleapfromthebackoftheorchestra,foundhimselfinthefrontrows.Withanotherleap,hewasontheorchestraleader’shead.Withathird,helandedonthestage.