Paddington At Large. Michael Bond

with very tall black hats made of fur and their instruments were so highly polished they sparkled in the sun like balls of fire.

      “It’s a good many years since I went to a band concert in the park, Mr Brown,” said Mr Gruber.

      “I’ve never been to one, Mr Gruber,” said Paddington.

      “That settles it then,” replied Mr Gruber. And as the item came to an end and the audience applauded he led the way to the entrance and asked for four five pence tickets. They just managed to squeeze themselves into four seats near the back before the conductor, a very imposing man with a large moustache, raised his baton for the next item.

      Paddington settled himself comfortably in his seat. They had done so much walking that day he wasn’t at all sorry to be able to sit down and rest his paws for a while and he applauded dutifully and cheered several times when, with a flourish, the conductor at last brought the music to an end and turned to salute the audience.

      Judy nudged Paddington. “You can see what they’re going to play next,” she whispered, pointing towards the bandstand. “It’s written on that board up there.”

      Paddington took out his opera glasses and leaned out into the aisle as he peered at the board with interest. There were several items called ‘Selections’ which he didn’t immediately recognize. These were followed by a number of regimental marches, one of which had just been played. After that came another selection from something called a ‘Surprise Symphony’, which sounded very good value.

      But it was as he peered at the last item that a strange expression suddenly came over Paddington’s face. He breathed heavily on his glasses several times, polished them with a piece of rag which he got from his suitcase, and then looked through them again at the board.

      “That’s called a selection from Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony,” explained Judy in a whisper as the music started up again.

      “What!” exclaimed Paddington hotly as his worst suspicions were confirmed. “Mr Gruber’s paid five pence each for our tickets and they haven’t even finished it!”

      “He died a long time ago,” whispered Judy, “and they never found the rest of it.”

      “Five pence each!” exclaimed Paddington bitterly, not listening to Judy’s words. “That’s twenty pence!”

      “Ssh!” said someone in the row behind.

      Paddington sank back into his seat and spent the next few minutes giving the conductor some hard stares through his opera glasses.

      Gradually, as the music reached a quiet passage, everyone closed their eyes and began to sink lower and lower in their seats until within a matter of moments the only movement came from somewhere near the back of the audience as a small brown figure got up from its seat by the gangway and crept towards the exit.