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One day Paddington was making his way down the Portobello
Road in order to have his morning cocoa with Mr. Gruber
when he came across a very unusual poster.
But if the poster looked interesting,
the view through the fence was even more exciting,
and he couldn't wait to tell his friend all about it.
"It's what's known as a Fair," said Mr. Gruber.
"And if you've never been to one,
Mr. Brown, then you have never lived."
Paddington always enjoyed his chats with Mr. Gruber,
and on the subject of Fairs his friend
was obviously an expert.
"There are slides, Mr. Brown, and roundabouts,
and swings, and dodgem cars, and usually there is
a big wheel.
You must go on the big wheel."
"It sounds very nice," said Paddington,
"but is it very expensive?
I've only got tenpence."
"In that case, Mr. Brown, I suggest you visit the fortune
teller first.
She may know if you are coming into more money!"
Paddington needed no second bidding,
and as luck would have it almost the first thing he came
across was a tent belonging to someone called Madame Zaza.
The notice on the outside said PALMS READ.
CRYSTAL GAZING.
PATRONISED BY ROYALTY.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
It seemed very good value indeed.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Zaza," he announced.
"I'd like to have my paw read, please.
I want to see if I'm coming into a fortune or not."
"I don't usually do bears," said Madame Zaza,
but if you cross my palm with silver I'll see what I can do."
Not wishing to spend his tenpence,
Paddington rummaged in the secret compartment
of his suitcase.
"I think I've got a Peruvian centavo, he announced.
"They're silver."
"I don't take foreign coins," said Madame Zaza.
"Anyway, crossing the palm means dropping it in,
and not taking it away again."
She broke off and gazed disbelievingly
at Paddington's paw.
"You seem to have a very long life-line.
I don't think I've ever seen quite such a long one before.
"I don't think it is a life-line,
Mrs. Zaza," said Paddington. It's an old marmalade chunk.
It must have got stuck on at breakfast by mistake.
Mmmmmm."
"Well, I certainly can't read your paw if it's covered with
marmalade," said Madame Zaza.
"You'll have to pay extra and have the crystal ball."
"Now, when is your birthday ?"
"June the twenty-fifth and December the twenty-fifth,
said Paddington.
"You can't have two birthdays a year,
exclaimed Madame Zaza.
"Nobody has two birthdays - except the Queen."
"Bears do," said Paddington firmly.
"Bears always have two."
"Then that makes it more difficult,
said Madame Zaza , and much more expensive."
Paddington gave a sigh.
As far as he could make out even if Madame Zaza did
discover he was coming into a fortune he wouldn't be able to
afford her fees.
But Madame Zaza was already busy with her crystal ball.
"I see a cloud," she said - "a pink cloud,
it's getting bigger and bigger...
Really, this is most exciting,
it's never happened before ,"
"Ugh! You've put candy floss all over my crystal ball!"
"Where are you? Come back,"
But Paddington had gone.
He'd had quite enough fortune telling for one day,
and he felt it was high time he spent his tenpence on
something more important.
"I think," he announced, "I can see a journey,
all the way to the big wheel, starting now!"
One day, to Paddington's surprise,
he arrived downstairs for tea only to find the Browns were
holding a party in his honour.
All the family were there, Mrs. Bird, Mr. Curry,
and Mr. Gruber.
"I've brought you a book on paper-tearing, Mr. Brown.
I thought you might be able to entertain us."
"I like paper tearing tricks.
I hope they're good."
Paddington hurried over to the table in order to
consult his new book.
"The first one, Mr. Curry," he said "is called THE MYSTERY OF
THE DISAPPEARING BANKNOTE."
"I'm afraid I've left my wallet in my other jacket,
said Mr. Brown.
"And I only have silver," said Mr. Gruber.
"I think it's up to you, Mr. Curry."
"All right. But I hope you
know what you're doing, bear."
"Oh, yes, Mr. Curry," announced Paddington.
"Mr. Gruber's book has even got pictures
showing you how to do it."
"Now I take the note and I fold it in two,
then I fold it in two again."
Then I tear bits out of it."
"Oh, dear."
His face dropped as he consulted his book.
"Then I put it under my hat."
"What are you doing now, bear?" growled Mr. Curry.
"Oh! Oh, dear.
I'm afraid something's gone wrong, Mr. Curry.
The banknote was supposed to turn up inside your ear."
"Have you tried looking in the other one, dear?"
asked Mrs. Brown.
"I think I turned over two pages at once, said Paddington.
"I've done the paper doily trick by mistake."
"What!" bellowed Mr. Curry.
"A doily ! That's my pound note !
It's full of holes !"
"Don't worry, Paddington. I'll pay.
It won't have to come out of your bun money.
Anyway, we have a surprise for you."
"We've had a cable from the Home for Retired Bears in Lima"
"It seems Aunt Lucy is celebrating her hundredth
birthday soon, Mr. Brown ,"
"Fancy being a hundred!" exclaimed Jonathan.
"Bears years are different," said Judy.
"They have two birthdays a year for a start."
"Anyway, we wondered if you'd like to be there!"
Paddington sat down in order to consider the matter.
His mind was in such a whirl.
"I don't know what to say," he murmured.
"I shouldn't say anything," said Mrs. Bird.
"Have a piece of cake instead. I made it specially."
"It's got 'Bon Voyage' written on it.
That means we hope you have a good journey."
"Thank you very much, everybody, said Paddington.
"But if I'm going back to Peru,
I think perhaps I'd better go upstairs and pack."
"Don't be long," called Judy.
"Your cocoa'll get cold."
"It'll seem very quiet without you, bear,"
called Mr. Curry.
"I don't know who'll do my odd jobs for me."
"Oh, dear," said Mrs. Brown.
"Oh, well, no more marmalade stains on the walls."
"I shall leave them on.
I'm not having them washed off for anyone."
"Crumbs!" cried Judy.
"Here he comes again. That was quick."
"I've packed my things!" announced Paddington.
"But I've left my flannel out in case I need a wash
before I leave."
"You've packed?" repeated Mrs. Bird.
"But what about all the stuff in your room ?"
"I'm only taking my important things, said Paddington.
"I shall leave everything else upstairs for safety."
Mr. and Mrs. Brown exchanged glances.
"Paddington," said Mrs. Bird, "you'll never know how happy
you've made us feel.
We thought perhaps you were leaving us for good."
"For good!" exclaimed Paddington.
He collapsed into a nearby armchair at the thought.
"That wouldn't be for good, Mrs. Bird.
That would be for bad."
"One thing," said Mr. Gruber.
"You'll be able to wash Mr. Brown's stains after all.
He can start afresh when he gets back."
"I think that's a very good idea, Mr. Gruber,"
said Paddington.
"If I'm going all the way to South America,
I expect I shall pick up some very interesting new ones.
Especially in Darkest Peru.
I can't wait to bring them back."
I can't wait to bring them back."
One day Mr. Gruber took Paddington on an outing
to the Law Courts.
"I think you'll find it interesting,
Mr. Brown," he said.
"It's a bit like watching a television play.
Wait here and I'll see if I can find you
a good case to watch."
Paddington thanked Mr. Gruber, and then settled down to a
quick sip of some of Mrs. Bird's steaming hot cocoa.
To his surprise he'd hardly begun when he heard
his name being called.
"Calling Mr. Brown."
"'ere, is your name Brown?
'cause if it is they're waiting for you."
"Mr. Gruber must have been quick!"
exclaimed Paddington.
"I don't know about Mr. Gruber.
It's old Justice Eagle trying the case today and 'e don't
like to be kept waiting."
"You best get a move on,"
"I'm sorry Mr. Eagle, called Paddington.
"I'm afraid my eyes got steamed up."
"Your eyes got steamed up!
'pon my soul!
In all my years as a judge, I've never heard of that
as an excuse before."
"It's not an excuse, Mr. Eagle. It's the cocoa."
"Do you swear,"
Paddington gave the man a hard stare.
"Never! My Aunt Lucy taught me not to."
"Silence in Court !"
"I see no mention of an Aunt Lucy, Mr. Cloudsworthy.
Do I take it the prosecutions are not going to call her ?"
"Er , To tell the truth, I don't think she would hear you
if you did call her, Mr. Eagle. She's in Peru."
"Aunt Lucy's in Peru ?
I find this very hard to accept."
"Er, with respect, me lad, I don't think she's important."
"Aunt Lucy's not important!" exclaimed Paddington.
"She brought me up !"
"Quite so, but we have a very big case here,
"I've got a small one. It's got a secret compartment
where I keep all my important papers."
"Really? I thought perhaps
it was where you kept your briefs."
"My Briefs? But I'm only here for the day."
"Ha! Ha! Ha!"
"Silence! This is no laughing matter."
"Briefs are papers lawyers bring with them
when they attend Court."
"Oh, I don't have any of those, Mr. Eagle,"
said Paddington.
But I've got some marmalade sandwiches."
"Is this really part of the evidence you are submitting
Mr. Cloudsworthy?
A bear's sandwich."
"We'd better mark it 'Exhibit A'.
I'll, er, I'll examine it more closely later."
"Mrs. Bird will be pleased," said Paddington.
I don't think she's ever had any of her marmalade
exhibited before. Especially in Court."
"In that case, we'd better call her.
Perhaps she can throw some light on this
unfortunate affair."
"Call Mrs. Bird."
"I don't think she's here either.
I expect she's out shopping with Mrs. Brown."
"Mrs. Bird's out shopping? Really, this is intolerable.
Is there no-one here today ?"
"You could try Mr. Gruber," said Paddington.
"I know he's here. At least, he was."
"Call Mr. Gruber."
"Call Mr. Gruber."
"Good Gracious!"
"I'm afraid," said Mr. Gruber, "there has been
a slight misunderstanding.
As I'm sure your Lordship realizes,
there are a good many Browns in this world."
"I believe this is the one you really wanted to see!"
Mr. Justice Eagle looked at Paddington and then at the
exhibits in front of him.
"It's been a very trying morning, he said.
"In more ways than one.
I think perhaps it's time we stopped for elevenses."
Paddington was most impressed at the thought of a judge
knowing about elevenses.
"Perhaps, Mr. Eagle," he said, "you'd like some more exhibits?
There are lots more where this one came from,
and I don't suppose I shall be coming to Court again
for a long time."
for a long time."
One morning, the Browns were in the middle of breakfast
when Mrs. Brown suddenly let out a cry.
"Good Gracious! I've just remembered.
It's Mr. Curry's birthday today."
"Mr. Curry's birthday?
I didn't know Mr. Curry had birthdays!"
"Everyone has birthdays," said Judy. "Even Mr. Curry."
"I don't suppose the postman will be overworked.
I can't imagine there being many cards."
The Browns fell silent at the thought.
"It's really rather sad," said Mrs. Brown.
"I know he brings it on himself by being so
bad-tempered, but we ought to do something for him."
"Perhaps," said Paddington hopefully,
"I could bake him a special birthday cake."
"Not in my kitchen oven you don't, said Mrs. Bird.
"It's only just been cleaned.
You can have some ingredients if you like, but no cooking."
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Bird,
said Paddington doubtfully.
It was very nice being offered some ingredients,
but he couldn't picture Mr. Curry being very excited
by a cold cake.
On the other hand, an idea began to form
in the back of his mind.
And the more he thought about it the more excited he became.
Until by the time Mrs. Bird went out shopping later that
morning he could hardly contain himself.
Mr. Brown had an old field oven in his garage.
It had once been used for picnics,
but that was long ago.
Now, it was more of a tool box than an oven.
All the same, Paddington felt that given enough ingredients
he would be able to make a very good cake indeed.
But if mixing a cake and getting it into the oven had
its problems, getting it out again was sometimes
even more difficult.
And with a large bowl of icing sugar waiting to be used up,
he wasn't quite sure what he was going to do.
Mr. Curry gazed down at the cake
Paddington had made for him.
"It's very kind of you, bear," he said. "Very kind indeed."
"It's untouched by hand," said Paddington eagerly.
I did it all by paw."
"Er, yes, well. Mmmm,"
"I didn't put any candles on top in case the
heat damaged the ceiling."
"What's that! What do you mean by that, bear?
Are you suggesting -"
"Perhaps you'd like to cut the cake, Mr. Curry?"
"Mmmm. All right.
But special occasions demand special tools.
I've brought my best knife along."
"Oh, dear. I shouldn't use that if I were you, Mr. Curry."
"Nonsense, bear. Stand back. I know what I'm doing.
It can't have set that hard. There hasn't been time."
"Oooh, aah,"
"O! Bear!"
"Look at my knife!"
"Paddington did warn you."
"Whatever did you make the icing with?"
"Well," said Paddington, "it's not so much what it's
made with, Mrs. Bird, it's what it's on.
I couldn't get the cake out of the oven so I decided to leave
it inside instead."
"It's what's known as a door cake."
"It saves having a cake tin and it stays fresh for ages,
if you give it half a chance."