第106章

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。

Thetwogentlemenwalkedintothecentreoftheinclosure，andlookedroundthem。

Thegrassonwhichtheywerestandingwasgirdledbyabroadsmoothpath，composedoffinely-siftedashesandsand——andthisagainwassurroundedbythefenceandbythespectatorsrankedbehindit。Abovethelinesthusformedroseononesidetheamphitheatreswiththeirtiersofcrowdedbenches，andontheotherthelongrowsofcarriageswiththesight-seersinsideandout。Theeveningsunwasshiningbrightly，thelightandshadelaytogetheringrandmasses，thevariedcolorsofobjectsblendedsoftlyonewiththeother。Itwasasplendidandaninspiritingscene。

SirPatrickturnedfromtherowsofeagerfacesallroundhimtohisfriendthesurgeon。

“Isthereonepersontobefoundinthisvastcrowd，“heasked，“whohascometoseetheracewiththedoubtinhismindwhichhasbrought_us_toseeit？“

Mr。Speedwellshookhishead。“Notoneofthemknowsorcareswhatthestrugglemaycostthemenwhoengageinit。“

SirPatricklookedroundhimagain。“IalmostwishIhadnotcometoseeit，“hesaid。“Ifthiswretchedman——“

Thesurgeoninterposed。“Don’tdwellneedlessly，SirPatrick，onthegloomyview，“herejoined。“TheopinionIhaveformedhas，thusfar，nopositivegroundstoreston。Iamguessingrightly，asIbelieve，butatthesametimeIamguessingint