At that moment there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” said the carpenter, without the strength to get to his feet.
Then into the workshop came a very lively little old man whose name was Geppetto; but the boys of the neighbourhood, when they wanted to drive him into a fury, called him by the nickname of Polendina, because of his yellow wig, which looked very much like cornmeal polendina.
Geppetto had a terrible temper. Woe to anyone who called him Polendina! He would turn into a wild beast at once, and there was no holding him.
“Good day, Master Antonio,” said Geppetto. “What are you doing down there on the floor?”
“I'm teaching the ants their sums.”
“Much good may it do you.”
“What brought you to me, neighbour Geppetto?”
“My legs. You must know, Master Antonio, that I have come to ask you a favour.”
“Here I am, ready to serve you,” replied the carpenter, getting up on his knees.
“This morning an idea rained down into my head.”
“Let's hear it.”
“I thought I'd make myself a fine wooden puppet: but a marvellous puppet, one that can dance, fence and turn somersaults. With this puppet I mean to travel the world, to earn myself a crust of bread and a glass of wine: what do you think?”
“Bravo, Polendina!” cried the same little voice, and nobody could tell where it came from.
Hearing himself called Polendina, neighbour Geppetto turned as red as a pepper with rage, and turning to the carpenter, he said to him furiously:
“Why are you insulting me?”
“Who's insulting you?”
“You called me Polendina!”
“It wasn't me.”
“Oh, so I suppose it was me! I say it was you.”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
And getting hotter and hotter, they went from words to blows, and grabbing hold of each other, they scratched, bit and mauled each other.
When the fight was over, Master Antonio found Geppetto's yellow wig in his hands, and Geppetto discovered that he had the carpenter's grizzled wig in his mouth.
“Give me back my wig!” shouted Master Antonio.
“And you give me back mine, and let's make peace.”
The two little old men, after each had taken back his own wig, shook hands and swore to remain good friends for the rest of their lives.
“Well then, neighbour Geppetto,” said the carpenter, as a sign that peace was made, “what is the favour you want from me?”
“I'd like a bit of wood to make my puppet; will you give it to me?”
Master Antonio, very pleased, went straight to the workbench to fetch that piece of wood which had given him so many frights. But just as he was about to hand it to his friend, the piece of wood gave a jolt, and wriggling violently out of his hands, it struck hard against poor Geppetto's dried-up shins.
“Ah! Is this the nice polite way you give away your things, Master Antonio? You've nearly lamed me!...”
“I swear it wasn't me!”
“Then I suppose it was me!...”
“It's all the fault of this wood....”
“I know it's the wood: but it was you who threw it at my legs!”
“I didn't throw it at you!”
“Liar!”
“Geppetto, don't insult me: or else I'll call you Polendina!...”
“Ass!”
“Polendina!”
“Donkey!”
“Polendina!”
“Ugly monkey!”
“Polendina!”
Hearing himself called Polendina for the third time, Geppetto lost his head completely, hurled himself at the carpenter, and there they gave each other a sound thrashing.
When the battle was over, Master Antonio found he had two more scratches on his nose, and the other had two fewer buttons on his waistcoat. Their accounts being settled in this way, they shook hands and swore to remain good friends for the rest of their lives.
Then Geppetto took his fine piece of wood with him, and after thanking Master Antonio, went limping back home.