the unknown guest(陌生客)-第31节
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and unsuspected communications between one subconsciousness and
another can no longer be denied except by those who of set purpose ignore
studies and experiments that are within the reach of any one who will take
the trouble to engage in them。 I was persuaded therefore that the horses
acted exactly like the 〃tipping…tables〃 which simply translate the
subliminal ideas of one or another of those present by the aid of
conventional little taps。 When all is said； it is much less surprising to see a
horse than a table lift its foot and much more natural that the living
substance of an animal rather than the inert matter of a thing should be
sensitive and susceptible to the mysterious influence of a medium。 I knew
quite well that experiments had been made in order to eliminate this theory。
People； for instance； prepared a certain number of questions and put them
in sealed envelopes。 Then； on entering the presence of the horse； they
would take one of the envelopes at random； open it and write down the
problem on the black…board； and Mohammed or Zarif would answer with
the same facility and the same readiness as though the solution had been
known to all the onlookers。 But was it really unknown to their
subconsciousness？ Who could say for certain？ Tests of this kind require
extraordinary precautions and a special dexterity； for the action of the
subconsciousness is so subtle； takes such unexpected turns； delves in the
museum of so many forgotten treasures and operates at such distances that
one is never sure of escaping it。 Were those precautions taken？ I was not
convinced that they were； and； without pretending to decide the question； I
said to myself that my blissful ignorance of mathematics might perhaps be
of service in shedding light upon some part of it。
For this ignorance； however deplorable from other points of view；
gave me a rare advantage in this case。 It was in fact extremely unlikely
that my subliminal consciousness； which had never known what a cubic
root was or the root of any other power； could help the horse。 I therefore
took from a table a list containing several problems； all different and all
equally unpleasant looking； covered up the solutions； asked Krall to leave
the stable and； when alone with Zarif； copied out one of them on the
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black…board。 In order not to overload these pages with details which would
only be a repetition of one another； I will at once say that none of the
antitelepathic tests succeeded that day。 It was the end of the lesson and late
in the afternoon； the horses were tired and irritable； and； whether Krall
was there or not； whether the problem was elementary or difficult； they
gave only absurd replies； wilfully 〃putting their foot in it；〃 as one might
say with very good reason。 But； next morning； on resuming their task；
when I proceeded as described above； Mohammed and Zarif； doubtless in
a better temper and already more accustomed to their new examiner； gave
in rapid succession correct answers to nearly every problem set them。 I am
bound in fairness to say that there was no appreciable difference between
these results and those which are obtained in the presence of Krall or other
onlookers who； consciously or unconsciously； are already aware of the
answer required。
I next thought of another and much simpler test； but one which； by
virtue of its very simplicity； could not be exposed to any elaborate and
farfetched suspicions。 I saw on one of the shelves in the stable a panel of
cards； about the size of an octavo volume； each bearing an arabic numeral
on one of its sides。 I once more asked my good friend Krall； whose
courtesy is inexhaustible； to leave me alone with his pupil。 I then shuffled
the cards and put three of them in a row on the spring…board in front of the
horse； without looking at them myself。 There was therefore； at that
moment； not a human soul on earth who knew the figures spread at the
feet of my companion； this creature so full of mystery that already I no
longer dare call him an animal。 Without hesitation and unasked； he rapped
out correctly the number formed by the cards。 The experiment succeeded；
as often as I cared to try it； with Hanschen； Mohammed and Zarif alike。
Mohammed did even more： as each figure was of a different colour； I
asked him to tell me the colourof which I myself was absolutely
ignorantof the first letter on the right。 With the aid of the conventional
alphabet； he replied that it was blue； which proved to be the case。 Of
course； I ought to have multiplied these experiments and made them more
exhaustive and complicated by combining； with the aid of the cards and
under the same conditions； exercises in multiplication； division and the
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extracting of roots。 I had not the time； but； a few days after I left； the
subject was resumed and completed by Dr。 H。 Hamel。 I will sum up his
report of the experiments： the doctor； alone in the stable with the home
（Krall was away； travelling）； puts down on the black…board the sign ＋ and
then places before and after this sign； without looking at either of them； a
card marked with a figure which he does not know。 He next asks
Mohammed to add up the two numbers。 Mohammed at first gives a few
heedless taps with his hoof。 He is called to order and requested to be
serious and to attend。 He then gives fifteen distinct taps。 The doctor next
replaces the sign ＋ by X and； again without looking at them； places two
cards on the blackboard and asks the horse not to add up the two figures
this time； but to multiply them。 Mohammed taps out； 〃27；〃 which is right；
for the black…board says； 〃9 X 3。〃 The same success follows with other
multiplication sums： 9 X 2； 8 X 6。 Then the doctor takes from an envelope
a problem of which he does not know the solution： fourth root of 7890481。
Mohammed replies； 〃53。〃 The doctor looks at the back of the paper： once
more； the answer is perfectly correct。
16
Does this mean that every risk of telepathy is done away with？ It
would perhaps be rash to make a categorical assertion。 The power and
extent of telepathy are as yet； we cannot too often repeat； indefinite；
indiscernible； untraceable and unlimited。 We have but quite lately
discovered it； we know only that its existence can no longer be denied； but；
as for all the rest； we are at much the same stage as that whereat Galvani
was when he gave life to the muscles of his dead frogs with two little
plates of metal which roused the jeers of the scientists of his time； but
contained the germ of all the wonders； of electricity。
Nevertheless； as regards telepathy in the sense in which we understand
and know it to…day； my mind is made up。 I am persuaded that it is not in
this direction that we must seek for an explanation of the phenomenon； or；
if we are determined to find it there； the explanation becomes complicated
with so many subsidiary mysteries that it is better to accept the prodigy as
it stands； in its original obscurity and simplicity。 When； for instance； I was
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copying out one of the grisly problems which I have mentioned； it is quite
certain that my conscious intelligence could make neither head nor tail of
it。 I did not so much as know what it meant or whether the exponent 3。 4。 5
called for a multiplication； a division or some other mathematical
operation which I did not even try to imagine； and； rack MY memory as I
may； I cannot remember any moment in my life when I knew more about
it than I do now。 We should therefore have to admit that MY sublimi
