After a few moments of basking in the pleasure of his discovery, he had a sudden thought and turned over the page. In an instant his mood changed and he drooped with dejection. He sat down on a chair. His numbers were the first pair at the very top of the new page, and worse still, there were many more pairs of numbers on that page and subsequent pages. He repeated once again 998104 and 1043096 in a subdued voice and then closed the book.
Mr Hedgehog hadn't noticed the children, even though there were four of them and they made no attempt to hide. He was far too wrapped up in his numbers. Now he sat with vacant eyes, staring at nothing.
Gelio caught Paidia's eye and revolved a finger on his temple to indicate that he thought the professor had a screw loose, but Muko held up a hand to silence Gelio and cleared his throat to attract the Professor's attention.
“Ahem,” he went.
The professor remained oblivious to them.
“Ahem!” said Muko a little louder.