The director then said to the stable-boy:
"What do you suppose I can do with a lame donkey? He would eat food without earning it. Take him to the market and sell him."
When they reached the market a purchaser was found at once. He asked the stable-boy:
"How much do you want for that lame donkey?"
"Twenty dollars."
"I will give you two dollars. Don't suppose that I am buying him to make use of; I am buying him solely for his skin. I see that his skin is very hard and I intend to make a drum with it for the band of my village."
Imagine poor Pinocchio's feelings when he heard that he was destined to become a drum!
As soon as the purchaser had paid his two dollars he conducted the little donkey to the seashore. He then put a stone round his neck and, tying a rope, the end of which he held in his hand, round his leg, he gave him a sudden push and threw him into the water.
Pinocchio, weighted down by the stone, went at once to the bottom, and his owner, keeping tight hold of the cord, sat down quietly on a piece of rock to wait until the little donkey was drowned, intending then to skin him.