“Whatisit？“repeatedthewaiter，inahollowvoice。“Themostdreadfulthingthat’shappenedinmytime。It’sallup，Sir，withthegreatFoot-RaceatFulham。Tinklerhasgonestale。“
Thethreegentlemendroppedsolemnlybackintotheirthreechairs，andrepeatedthedreadfulintelligence，inchorus——“Tinklerhasgonestale。“
Amanwhostandsfacetofacewithagreatnationaldisaster，andwhodoesn’tunderstandit，isamanwhowilldowiselytoholdhistongueandenlightenhismindwithoutaskingotherpeopletohelphim。Juliusacceptedthewaiter’snewspaper，andsatdowntomakeifpossibletwodiscoveries：First，astowhether“Tinkler“did，ordidnot，meanaman。Second，astowhatparticularformofhumanafflictionyouimpliedwhenyoudescribedthatmanas“gonestale。“
Therewasnodifficultyinfindingthenews。Itwasprintedinthelargesttype，andwasfollowedbyapersonalstatementofthefacts，takenoneway——whichwasfollowed，initsturn，byanotherpersonalstatementofthefacts，takeninanotherway。Moreparticulars，andfurtherpersonalstatements，werepromisedinlatereditions。TheroyalsaluteofBritishjournalismthunderedtheannouncementofTinkler’sstalenessbeforeapeopleprostrateonthenationalbettingbook。
Divestedofexaggeration，thefactswerefewenoughandsimpleenough。AfamousAthleticAssociationoftheNorthhadchallengedafamousAthleticAssociationoftheSouth。Theusual“Sports“