“Well, Pinocchio, to-morrow morning you are to come with us to visit my friend Beluga. You may walk around a little now with Marsovino; but after your walk you are to go to sleep. I want you up early to-morrow.”
While the marionette was listening to Tursio he had noticed a bright red eel lying quietly among some weeds. The mood for mischief again seized him. He smiled to himself. Approaching Marsovino, he pulled him gently by the fin, and said to him smilingly:
“Come with me. I want to show you something. Look in those weeds. There is a beautiful electrical machine there.”
“An electrical machine!” Marsovino was full of interest. “Where is it?”
“Stick your nose among the weeds and you will see it.”
The dolphin did as he was told. Pinocchio laughed up his sleeve, and very quietly hid himself behind some friendly rocks.
“Oh!” suddenly screamed Marsovino, leaping backward. “An electrical machine! Why, it is an electric eel, you mean boy! That was an unkind joke, Pinocchio.”
Yes, that mischief maker, seeing the eel again, thought he would play a trick on the poor dolphin.
Tursio, hearing the screams, had come nearer.