The puppet returns to town, eager to find the treasure he buried in the Field of Miracles. He dreams of wealth and luxury, imagining a life filled with riches. Upon arriving at the field, he discovers that his gold coins are missing. A parrot informs him that the Fox and the Cat, who had previously deceived him, returned and stole his money while he was away. In disbelief, Pinocchio digs frantically but finds nothing. Desperate, he rushes to the local court to report the theft. The judge, an old ape, listens to his tale but instead of delivering justice, he orders Pinocchio to be imprisoned for being a "poor devil" robbed of his gold. Pinocchio protests, but the gendarmes take him away. He spends four months in prison, enduring the consequences of his naivety. His release comes unexpectedly when the Emperor of the town orders a celebration and the opening of prisons. The jailor initially refuses to let him go, but upon Pinocchio's insistence that he is also a criminal, he is freed. The story highlights themes of gullibility, the consequences of trusting deceitful characters, and the harsh realities of justice in a world where appearances can be misleading.
By Carlo Collodi · First published 1881 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fantasy, Adventure