Among the boys at the court was one who resembled him in all things except in the color of his skin. What had Pinocchio planned?
One day, while strolling through the woods near the capital, he called the boy to him and taking his arm, said to him in a gentle voice, “Do you love your emperor?”
“Is it necessary to ask, your majesty?” replied the boy, moved to tears at such an honor.
“And should you like to do your emperor a favor?”
“Your majesty, to do you a service I would go at once, with only my feather duster to protect me, and pinch a boa constrictor’s tongue!”
“Good!” replied Pinocchio. “You are a fine lad, and you will become a great man. But let us put aside boa constrictors for the time. I have often been sad because I am not like my subjects. I should like to color my skin so that it would be like a native’s, dear Marameho,—like yours. You know how pleased the ministers would be.”
“Your majesty, it would be the brightest day of our lives!”
“Good boy!” exclaimed the marionette. “If you always answer so well, I promise you the place of keeper of the king’s treasures.”
The boy’s eyes shone.
“Well, can it be done?” asked the marionette.