the unknown guest(陌生客)-第19节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
return to the case before us； which is all the more disquieting inasmuch as
we may consider it a sort of prototype of the tragic and almost diabolical
reticence which we find in most premonitions。 It is probable that under the
mattress there was a stray match which the child discovered and struck；
this is the only possible explanation of the catastrophe； for there was no
fire burning on that floor of the house。 If the mother had turned the
mattress； she would have seen the match； and； on the other hand； she
would certainly have turned the mattress if she had been told that there
62
… Page 63…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
was a match underneath it。 Why did the voice that urged her to perform
the necessary action not add the one word that was capable of ensuring
that action？ The problem moreover is equally perturbing and perhaps
equally insoluble whether it concerns our own subconscious faculties； or
spirits； or strange intelligences。 Those who give these warnings must know
that they will be useless； because they manifestly foresee the event as a
whole； but they must also know that one last word； which they do not
pronounce； would be enough to prevent the misfortune that is already
consummated in their prevision。 They know it so well that they bring this
word to the very edge of the abyss； hold it suspended there； almost let it
fall and recapture it suddenly at the moment when its weight would have
caused happiness and life to rise once more； to the surface of the mighty
gulf。 What then is this mystery？ Is it incapacity or hostility？ If they are
incapable； what is the unexpected and sovereign force that interposes
between them and us？ And； if they are hostile； on what； on whom are they
revenging themselves？ What can be the secret of those inhuman games； of
those uncanny and cruel diversions on the most slippery and dangerous
peaks of fate？ Why warn； if they know that the warning will be in vain？
Of whom are they making sport？ Is there really an inflexible fatality by
virtue of which that which has to be accomplished is accomplished from
all eternity？ But then why not respect silence； since all speech is useless？
Or do they； in spite of all； perceive a gleam； a crevice in the inexorable
wall？ What hope do they find in it？ Have they not seen more clearly than
ourselves that no deliverance can come through that crevice？ One could
understand this fluttering and wavering； all these efforts of theirs； if they
did not know； but here it is proved that they know everything； since they
foretell exactly that which they might prevent。 If we press them with
questions； they answer that there is nothing to be done； that no human
power could avert or thwart the issue。 Are they mad； bored； irritable； or
accessory to a hideous pleasantry？ Does our fate depend on the happy
solution of some petty enigma or childish conundrum； even as our
salvation； in most of the so…called revealed religious； is settled by a blind
and stupid cast of the die？ Is all the liberty that we are granted reduced to
the reading of a more or less ingenious riddle？ Can the great soul of the
63
… Page 64…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
universe be the soul of a great baby？
16
But； rather than pursue this subject； let us be just and admit that there
is perhaps no way out of the maze and that our reproaches are as
incomprehensible as the conduct of the spirits。 Indeed； what would you
have them do in the circle in which our logic imprisons them？ Either they
foretell us a calamity which their predictions cannot avert； in which case
there is no use in foretelling it； or； if they announce it to us and at the same
time give us the means to prevent it； they do not really see the future and
are foretelling nothing； since the calamity is not to take place； with the
result that their action seems equally absurd in both cases。
It is obvious： to whichever side we turn； we find nothing but the
incomprehensible。 On the one hand； the preestablished； unshakable；
unalterable future which we have called destiny； fatality or what you will；
which suppresses man's entire independence and liberty of action and
which is the most inconceivable and the dreariest of mysteries； on the
other； intelligences apparently superior to our own； since they know what
we do not； which； while aware that their intervention is always useless and
very often cruel； nevertheless come harassing us with their sinister and
ridiculous predictions。 Must we resign ourselves once more to living with
our eyes shut and our reason drowned in the boundless ocean of darkness；
and is there no outlet？
17
For the moment we will not linger in the dark regions of fatality；
which is the supreme mystery； the desolation of every effort and every
thought of man。 What is clearest amid this incomprehensibility is that the
spiritualistic theory； at first sight the most seductive； declares itself； on
examination； the most difficult to justify。 We will also once more put aside
the theosophical theory or any other which assumes a divine intention and
which might； to a certain extent； explain the hesitations and anguish of the
prophetic warnings； at the cost； however； of other puzzles； a thousand
64
… Page 65…
THE UNKNOWN GUEST
times as hard to solve； which nothing authorizes us to substitute for the
actual puzzle； formless and infinite； presented to our uninitiated vision。
When all is said； it is perhaps only in the theory which attributes those
premonitions to our subconsciousness that we are able to find； if not a
justification； at least a sort of explanation of that formidable reticence。
They accord fairly well with the strange； inconsistent； whimsical and
disconcerting character of the unknown entity within us that seems to live
on nothing but nondescript fare borrowed from worlds to which nor
intelligence as yet has no access。 It lives under our reason； in a sort of
invisible and perhaps eternal palace； like a casual guest； dropped from
another planet； whose interests； ideas； habits； passions have naught in
common with ours。 If it seems to have notions on the hereafter that are
infinitely wider and more precise than those which we possess； it has only
very vague notions on the practical needs of our existence。 It ignores us
for years； absorbed no doubt with the numberless relations which it
maintains with all the mysteries of the universe； and； when suddenly it
remembers us； thinking apparently to please us； it makes an enormous；
miraculous； but at the same time clumsy and superfluous movement；
which upsets all that we believed we knew； without teaching us anything。
Is it making fun of us； is it jesting； is it amusing itself； is it facetious；
teasing； arch； or simply sleepy； bewildered； inconsistent； absent…minded？
In any case； it is rather remarkable that it evidently dislikes to make itself
useful。 It readily performs the most glamorous feats of sleight…of…hand；
provided that we can derive no profit from them。 It lifts up tables； moves
the heaviest articles； produces flowers and hair； sets strings vibrating；
gives life to inanimate objects and passes through solid matter； conjures up
ghosts； subjugates time and space； creates light； but all； it seems； on one
condition； that its performances should be without rhyme or reason and
keep to the province of supernaturally vain and puerile recreations。 The
case of the divining…rod is almost the only one in which it lends us any
regular assistance；
