Pinocchio, having become a Donkey, is bought by the owner of a Circus, who wants to teach him to do tricks.

The Donkey becomes lame and is sold to a man who wants to use his skin for a drumhead.
Very sad and downcast were the two poor little fellows as they stood and looked at each other.

Outside the room, the Little Man grew more and more impatient, and finally gave the door such a violent kick that it flew open.

With his usual sweet smile on his lips, he looked at Pinocchio and Lamp-Wick and said to them: "Fine work, boys! You have brayed well, so well that I recognized your voices immediately, and here I am." On hearing this, the two Donkeys bowed their heads in shame, dropped their ears, and put their tails between their legs.
At first, the Little Man petted and caressed them and smoothed down their hairy coats.

Then he took out a currycomb and worked over them till they shone like glass.