“What then? A horse?”
“Pinocchio, I am surprised at you. No, neither horse nor fish.”
“I never knew of there being anything but fish in the sea.”
“Who told you so? There are many animals, my dear boy, who live in the sea, but who are not fish.”
“What then? Birds? Elephants? Dogs?”
“Yes, sir, just so. Still, you people who live on the earth and read books, you ought to know all these things.”
“Well ... yes ... I do read books. In fact, I have read every book that has ever been written.”
“All of them? Nothing less? Why, I didn’t think a man could do that if he had a hundred lives to live,” murmured the good old dolphin.
“Well, Pinocchio,” he went on, “remember to-night, and do not forget that I am not a fish.” With this remark he disappeared in the blue waters.
Pinocchio looked after him for a long time.