The new adventure

   The story

On a stormy evening in late spring, Lord Pothamyus Edward Paddings III, IX Duke of Paddings, paces preoccupied through the rooms of his villa in the Tuscan countryside. With him is his trusty friend and companion of adventure, Goodenstein. A telephone call from Petunia, another old friend, has told him that two children called Camilla and Mattia are journeying with their mad uncle towards the villa. With them is what seems to be a strange treasure map.

As soon as they arrive, the furry Lord realizes at first glance the
enormous power that lies in this piece of paper. According to an
old legend, in fact, the map is able to reveal to the world the secret of imagination, giving anyone possessing it complete dominion over every mind.

This, briefly, is what persuaded Lord Paddings, the famous hippopotamus adventurer, to go back into action in the company of his new friends. But that’s not all.

As soon as they set out from Florence on their investigations, the Lord and the children realize that they are not alone. Someone else wants the secret. And confirmation of the risk they’re taking comes very soon, in the form of terrible traps and foul play from their cunning opponents. So they’re catapulted among puzzles, treachery, confessions and last-minute rescues, always following mysterious clues that lead to the secret, scattered around the whole of Europe over the centuries.

And if the adventurous vicissitudes of the Lord and his companions have by now been well documented, many doubts still persist on the final outcome. What remains to be understood is if, during this adventure, the secret has been truly protected. Who takes possession of it, in the end? And what is their aim? What could happen if it ends up in the wrong hands?

To find out, the only thing to do is to wait for the book that narrates in detail this new adventure of Lord Paddings, the irresistible furry hippopotamus, back in action at last.