the unknown guest(陌生客)-第22章
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〃Is there anything you would like me to do for you？〃 a lady of his
acquaintance asked； one day。
And Master Rolf gravely answered：
〃Wedelen；〃 which means； 〃Wag your tail！〃
Rolf； whose fame is comparatively young； has not yet； like his
illustrious rivals of the Rhine Province； been the object of minute
enquiries and copious and innumerable reports。 But the incidents which I
have just mentioned and which are vouched for by such men as Professor
Mackenzie and M。 Duchatel； the learned and clear…sighted vice…president
of the Societe Universelle d'Etudes Psychiques；＇1＇ who went to Mannheim
for the express purpose of studying them； appear to be no more
controvertible than the Elbenfeld occurrences； of which they are a sort of
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replica or echo。 It is not unusual to find these coincidences amongst
abnormal phenomena。 They spring up simultaneously in different quarters
of the globe； correspond with one another and multiply as though in
obedience to a word of command。 It is probable therefore that we shall see
still more manifestations of the same class。 One might almost say that a
new spirit is passing over the world and； after awakening in man forces
whereof he was not aware； is now reaching other creatures who with us
inhabit this mysterious earth； on which they live； suffer and die； as we do；
without knowing why。
＇1＇ See the interesting lecture by M。 Edmond Duchatel； published in
the Annales des Sciences Psychiques； October 1913。
5
I have not been to Mannheim； but I made my pilgrimage to Elberfeld
and stayed long enough in the town to carry away with me the conviction
shared by all those who have undertaken the journey。
A few months ago； Herr Krall； whom I had promised the year before
that I would come and see his wonderful horses； was kind enough to
repeat his invitation in a more pressing fashion； adding that his stable
would perhaps be broken up after the 15th of September and that； in any
case； be would be obliged； by his doctor's orders； to interrupt for an
indefinite period a course of training which he found exceedingly
fatiguing。
I at once left for Elberfeld； which； as everybody knows； is an
important manufacturing…town in Rhenish Prussia and is； in fact； more
quaint； pleasing and picturesque than one might expect。 I had long since
read everything that had been published on the question； and I was wholly
persuaded of the genuineness of the incidents。 Indeed it would be difficult
to have any doubts after the repeated and unremitting supervision and
verification to which the experiments are subjected； a supervision which is
of the most rigorous type； often hostile and almost ill…mannered。 As for
their interpretation； I was convinced that telepathy； that is to say； the
transmission of thought from one subconsciousness to another； remained；
however strange it might be in this new region； the only acceptable theory；
and this in spite of certain circumstances that seemed plainly to exclude it。
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In default of telepathy proper； I inclined toward the mediumistic or
subliminal theory； which was very ably outlined by M。 de Vesmes in a
remarkable lecture delivered； on the 22nd of December； 1912； before the
Societe Universelle d'Etudes Psychiques。 It is true that telepathy；
especially when carried to its extreme limits； appeals above all to the
subliminal forces； so that the two theories overlap at more than one point
and it is often difficult to make out where the first ends and the second
begins。 But this discussion will be more appropriate a little later。
6
I found Herr Krall in his goldsmith's shop； a sort of palace of
Golconda； streaming and glittering with the most precious pearls and
stones on earth。 Herr Krall； it is well to remember； in order to dispel any
suspicion of pecuniary interest； is a rich manufacturer whose family for
three generations； from father to son； have conducted one of the most
important jewelry businesses in Germany。 His researches； so far from
bringing him the least profit； cost him a great deal of money； take up all
his leisure and some part of the time which he would otherwise devote to
his business and； as usually happens； procure him from his fellow citizens
and from not a few scientific men more annoyance； unfair criticism and
sarcasm than consideration or gratitude。 His work is preeminently the
disinterested and thankless task of the apostle and pioneer。
For the rest； Herr Kraft； though his faith is active； zealous and
infectious； has nothing in common with the visionaries or illuminati。 He is
a man of about fifty； vigorous； alert and enthusiastic； but at the same time
well…balanced； accesible to every idea and even to every dream； yet
practical and methodical； with a ballast of the most invincible common…
sense。 He inspires from the outset that fine confidence； frank and
unrestrained； which instantly disperses the instinctive doubt； the strange
uneasiness and the veiled suspicion that generally separate two people
who meet for the first time； and one welcomes in him； from the very
depths of one's being； the honest man； the staunch friend whom one can
trust and whom one is sorry not to have known earlier in life。
We go together through the streets and along the bustling quays of
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Elberfeld to the stable； situated at a few hundred steps from the shop。 The
horses are taking the air outside the doors of their boxes； in the yard
shaded by a lime…tree。 There are four of them： Mohammed； the most
intelligent； the most gifted of them all； the great mathematician of the
party； his double； Zarif； a little less advanced； less tractable； craftier； but at
the same time more fanciful； more spontaneous and capable of occasional
disconcerting sallies； next； Hanschen； a little Shetland pony； hardly bigger
than a Newfoundland dog； the street…urchin of the band； always quivering
with excitement； roguish； flighty； uncertain and passionate； but ready in a
moment to work you out the most difficult addition and multiplication
sums with a furious scrape of the hoof； and lastly the latest arrival； the
plump and placid Berto； an imposing black stallion； quite blind and
lacking the sense of smell。 He has been only a few months at school and is
still； so to speak； in the preparatory class； but already doesa little more
clumsily； but more good humouredly and conscientiouslysmall addition
and subtraction sums quite as well as many a child of the same age。
In a corner； Kama； a young elephant two or three years old； about the
size of an outrageously 〃blown〃 donkey； rolls his mischievous and almost
knavish eye； under the shelter of his wide ears； each resembling a great
rhubarb…leaf； and with his stealthy； insinuating trunk carefully picks up
whatever he considers fit to eat； that is to say； pretty well everything that
lies about on the stones。 Great things were hoped of him； but hitherto he
has disappointed all expectations： he is the dunce of the establishment。
Perhaps he is too young still： his little elephant…soul no doubt resembles
that of a sucking…babe which； in the place of its feet and hands； plays with
the stupendous nose that must first explore and question the universe。 It is
impossible to grip his attention； and； when they set out before him his
alphabet of movable letters； instead of naming those which are pointed out
to him he applies himself to pulling them off their stems； in order to
swallow them surreptitiously。 He has disheartened his kind master； who；
pending the coming of the reason and wisdom promised by the
proboscidian legends； leaves him in a contented state of ignorance made
more blissful by an almost insatiable appetite。
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7
But I ask to see the great pioneer； Kluge Hans； Clever Hans。 He is still
alive。 He is old： he must be sixteen or seventeen； but his old age； alas； is
not exempt from the baneful troubles from which men themselves suffer
in their decline！ Hans has turned out badly； it appears； and is never
mentioned save in ambiguous terms。 An imprudent or vindictive groom； I
forget which； having introduced a mare into the yard； Hans the Pure； who
till then had led an austere and monkish existence； vowed to celibacy；
science and the chaste delights of figures； Hans the Irreproachable
incontinently lost his head and cut himself open on the hanging…rail of his
stall。 They had to force back his intestines and sew up his belly。 He is now
rusticating miserably in a meadow outside the town。 So true it is that a life
cannot be judged except at its close and that we are sure of nothing until
we are dead。
8
Before the sitting begins； while the master is making his morning
inspection； I go up to Muhamed； speak to him and pat him； looking
straight into his eyes meanwhile in order to catch a sign of his genius。 The
handsome creature； well…bred and in hard condition； is as calm and
trusting as a dog； he shows himself excessively gracious and friendly and
tries to give me some
