Wasagreatoratorgoingtoaddresstheassembly？Wasagloriousanniversarytobecommemorated？Wasareligiousservicetobeperformed？Helookedroundhimtoapplyforinformationoncemore。Twogentlemen——whocontrastedfavorably，sofarasrefinementofmannerwasconcerned，withmostofthespectatorspresent——wereslowlymakingtheirway，atthatmoment，throughthecrowdnearhim。Herespectfullyaskedwhatnationalsolemnitywasnowabouttotakeplace。Theyinformedhimthatapairofstrongyoungmenweregoingtorunroundtheinclosureforagivennumberofturns，withtheobjectofascertainingwhichcouldrunthefastestofthetwo。
Theforeignerliftedhishandsandeyestoheaven。Oh，multifariousProvidence!whowouldhavesuspectedthattheinfinitediversitiesofthycreationincludedsuchbeingsasthese!Withthataspiration，heturnedhisbackontherace-course，andlefttheplace。
Onhiswayoutofthegroundshehadoccasiontousehishandkerchief，andfoundthatitwasgone。Hefeltnextforhispurse。Hispursewasmissingtoo。Whenhewasbackagaininhisowncountry，intelligentinquirieswereaddressedtohimonthesubjectofEngland。Hehadbutonereplytogive。“Thewholenationisamysterytome。OfalltheEnglishpeopleIonlyunderstandtheEnglishthieves!“
Inthemeantimethetwogentlemen，makingtheirwaythroughthecrowd，reachedawicket-gateinthefencewhichsurroundedtheinclosure。
Presentingawrittenordertothepolicemaninchargeofthegate，theywereforthwithadmittedwithinthesacredprecinctsThecloselypackedspectators，regardingthemwithmixedfeelingsofenvyandcuriosity，wonderedwhotheymightbe。Weretheyrefereesappointedtoactatthecomingrace？orreportersforthenewspapers？orcommissionersofpolice？Theywereneithertheonenortheother。TheywereonlyMr。Speedwell，thesurgeon，andSirPatrickLundie。