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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 huge licks and mighty kisses which I do my best to
avoid because they are a little unexpected and overdemonstrative。 The
expression of his limpid antelope…eyes is deep； serious and remote； but it
differs in no wise from that of his brothers who； for thousands of years；
have seen nothing but brutality and ingratitude in man。 If we were able to
read anything there； it would not be that insufficient and vain little effort
which we call thought； but rather an indefinable； vast anxiety； a tear…
dimmed regret for the boundless； stream…crossed plains where his sires
sported at will before they knew man's yoke。 In any case； to see him thus
fastened by a halter to the stable…door； beating off the flies and absently
pawing the cobbles； Muhamed is nothing more than a well…trained horse
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
who seems to be waiting for his saddle or harness and who hide； his new
secret as profoundly as all the others which nature has buried in him。
9
But they are summoning me to take my place in the stable where the
lessons are given。 It is a small room； empty and bare； with peat…moss litter
bedding and white…washed walls。 The horse is separated from the people
present by breast…high wooden partitions。 Opposite the four…legged scholar
is a black…board； nailed to the wall； and on one side a corn…bin which
forms a seat for the spectators。 Muhamed is led in。 Krall； who is a little
nervous； makes no secret of his uneasiness。 His horses are fickle animals；
uncertain； capricious and extremely sensitive。 A trifle disturbs them；
confuses them； puts them off。 At such times； threats； prayers and even the
irresistible charm of carrots and good rye…bread are useless。 They
obstinately refuse to do any work and they answer at random。 Everything
depends on a whim； the state of the weather； the morning meal or the
impression which the visitor makes upon them。 Still； Krall seems to know；
by certain imperceptible signs； that this is not going to be a bad day。
Muhamed quivered with excitement； snorts loudly through his nostrils；
utters a series of indistinct little whinnyings： excellent symptoms； it
appears。 I take my seat on the corn…bin。 The master； standing beside the
black…board； chalk in hand； introduces me to Muhamed in due form； as to
a human being：
〃Muhamed； attention！ This is your uncle〃pointing to me〃who has
come all the way to honour you with a visit。 Mind you don't disappoint
him。 His name is Maeterlinck。〃 Krall pronounced the first syllable
German…fashion： Mah。 〃You understand： Maeterlinck。 Now sh