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sort has been sniffed at。 Such stories； though highly probable； as yet lack
adequate support。 But； within a similar order of ideas； and in a humbler
world and one with more modest limits； the dog； for instance； is
incessantly surrounded by different scents and smells to which he appears
indifferent until his attention is aroused by one or other of these vagrant
effluvia； when he extricates it from the hopeless tangle。 It would seem as
though the trail took life； vibrating like a chord in unison with the animal's
wishes； becoming irresistible； and taking it to its goal after innumerable
winds and turns。
We see the mysterious network revealed also in 〃cross…
correspondence。〃 Two or three mediums who do not know one another；
who are often separated by seas； or continents； who are ignorant of the
whereabouts of the one who is to complete their thought； each write a part
of a sentence which； as it stands； conveys no meaning whatever。 On
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piecing the fragments together； we perceive that they fit to perfection and
acquire an intelligible and obviously premeditated sense。 We here find
once more the same faculty that permits the medium to detect； among
thousands of others； a definite force which was wandering in space。 It is
true that； in these cases； the spiritualists maintain that the whole
experiment is organized and directed by a discarnate intelligence；
independent of the mediums； which means to prove its existence and its
identity in this manner。 Without incontinently rejecting this theory； which
is not necessarily indefensible； we will merely remark that； since the
faculty is manifested in psychometry without the intervention of the spirits；
there can be no sufficient reason for attributing it to them in cross…
correspondence。
9
But in whom does it reside？ Is it hidden in ourselves or in the medium？
According to Dr。 Osty； the clairvoyants are mirrors reflecting the intuitive
thought that is latent in each of us。 In other wordsit is we ourselves who
are clairvoyant； and they but reveal to us nor own clairvoyance。 Their
mission is to stir； to awaken； to galvanize； to illumine the secrets of our
subconsciousness and to bring them to the surface of our normal lives。
They act upon our inner darkness exactly as； in the photographic dark…
room； the developing…bath acts upon the sensitized plate； I am convinced
that the theory is accurate as regards intuition and clairvoyance proper；
that is to say； in all cases where we are in the medium's presence and more
or less directly in touch with him。 But is it so in psychometry？ Is it we
who； unknown to ourselves； know all that the object contains； or is it the
medium alone who discovers it in the object itself； independently of the
person who produces the object？ When； for instance； we receive a letter
from a stranger； does this letter； which has absorbed like a sponge the
whole life and by choice the subconscious life of the writer； disgorge all
that it contained into our subconsciousness？ Do we instantly learn all that
concerns its author； absolutely as though he were standing before us in the
flesh and； above all； with his soul laid bare； though we remain profoundly
ignorant of the fact that we have learnt it until the medium's intervention
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
tells us so？
This； if you like； is simply shifting the question。 Let it be the medium
or myself that discovers the unknown personality in the object or tracks it
across time and space： all that we do is to widen the scope of our riddle；
while leaving it no less obscure。 Nevertheless； there is some interest in
knowing whether we have to do with a general faculty latent in all men or
an inexplicable privilege reserved to rare individuals。 The exceptional
should always be eliminated； if possible； and not left to hang over the
abyss like an unfinished bridge leading to nothing。 I am well aware that
the compulsory intervention of the medium implies that； in spite of all； we
recognize his possession of abnormal faculties； but at any rate we reduce
their power and their extent appreciably and we return sooner and more
easily to the ordinary laws of the great human mystery。 And it is of
importance that we should be ever coming back to that mystery and ever
bringing all things back to it。 But； unfortunately； actual experience does
not admit of this generalization。 It is clearly a case of a special faculty； one
peculiar to the medium； one which is wholly unknown to our latent
intuition。 We can easily assure ourselves of this by causing the medium to
receive through a third party and enclosed in a series of three envelopes； as
in the experiment described above； a letter of which we know the writer；
but of which both the source and the contents are absolutely unknown to
the messenger。 These unusual circumstances； in which all subconscious
communications between consultant and consulted are strictly cut off； will
in no way hamper the medium's clairvoyance； and we may fairly conclude
that it is actually the medium himself who discovers directly； without any
intermediary； without 〃relays；〃 to use M。 Duchatel's expression； all that the
object holds concealed。 It； therefore； seems certain that there is； at least in
psychometry； something more than the mere mirror of which Dr。 Osty
speaks。
10
I consider it necessary to declare for the last time that these
psychometric phenomena； astonishing though they appear at first； are
known； proved and certain and are no longer denied or doubted by any of
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those who have studied them seriously。 I could have given full particulars
of a large number of conclusive experiments； but this seemed to me as
superfluous and tedious as would be； for instance； a string of names of the
recognized chemical reactions that can be obtain