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which equal them and sometimes surpass them in a region that wrongly
appeared to us the only really unassailable province of mankind； I mean
the obscure and abstruse province of numbers。
It has many other no less strange and perhaps more important
manifestations； which we propose to examine in a later volume； notably its
surprising therapeutic virtues and its phenomena of materialization。 But；
without expressing a premature judgment on what we do not yet know；
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perhaps we have sketched it with sufficient clearness in the foregoing
pages to enable us henceforward to disentangle certain general and
characteristic features from a confusion of often contradictory lines。
3
But； in the first place； does it really exist； this tragic and comical；
evasive and unavoidable figure which we make no claim to portray； but at
most to divest of some of its shadows？ It were rash to affirm it too loudly；
but meanwhile； in the realms where we suppose it to reign； everything
happens as though it did exist。 Do away with it and you are obliged to
people the world and burden your life with a host of hypothetical and
imaginary beings： gods； demigods； angels； demons； saints； spirits； shells；
elementals； etherial entities； interplanetary intelligences and so on； except
it and all those phantoms； without disappearing； for they may very well
continue to live in its shadow； become superfluous or accessory。 It is not
intolerant and does not definitely eliminate any of the hypotheses by the
aid of which man has hitherto striven to explain what he did not
understand； hypotheses which； in regard to some matters； are not
inadmissible； although not one of them is confirmed； but it brings him
back to itself； absorbs them and rules them without annihilating them。 If；
for instance； to select the most defensible theory； one which it is
sometimes difficult to dismiss absolutely； if you insist that the discarnate
spirits take part in your actions； haunt your house； inspire your thoughts；
reveal your future； it will answer：
〃That is true； but it is still I； I am discarnate； or rather I am not wholly
incarnate： it is only a small part of my being that is embodied in your flesh；
and the rest； which is nearly all of me； comes and goes freely both among
those who once were and among those who are yet to be； and； when they
seem to speak to you； it is my own speech that borrows their customs and
their voice in order to make you listen and to amuse your often slumbering
attention。 If you prefer to deal with superior entities of unknown origin；
with interplanetary or supernatural intelligences； once more it is I； for；
since I am not entirely in your body； I must needs be elsewhere； and to be
elsewhere when one is not held back by the weight of the flesh is to be
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
everywhere if one so pleases。〃
We see； it has a reply to everything； it takes every name that we wish
and there is nothing to limit it； because it lives in a world wherein bounds
are as illusory as the useless words which we employ on earth。
4
While it has a reply to everything； certain manifestations which it
deliberately ascribes to the spirits have brought upon it a not undeserved
reproach。 To begin with； as Dr。 Maxwell observes； it has no absolutely
fixed doctrine。 In nearly every country in the world； when it speaks in the
name of the spirits； it declares that they undergo reincarnation and readily
relates their past existences。 In England； on the contrary； it usually asserts
that they do not become reincarnated。 What does this mean？ Surely this
ignorance or this inconsistency on the part of that which appears to know
everything is very strange！ And worse； sometimes it attributes to the spirits；
sometimes to itself or any one or anything the revelations which it makes
to us。 When exactly is it speaking the truth？ At least on two occasions out
of three； it deludes itself or deludes us。 If it deceive itself； if it is mistaken
about a matter in which it should be easy for it to know the truth； what can
it teach us on the subject of a world of whose most elementary laws it is
ignorant； since it does not even know whether it is itself or another that
speaks to us in the name of that world？ Are we to believe that it was in the
same darkness as our poor superficial ego； which it pretends so often to
enlighten and which it does in fact inspire in most of the great events of
life？ If it deceives us； why does it do so？ We can see no object： it asks for
nothing； not for alms； nor prayers； nor thoughts； on behalf of those whose
mantle it assumes for the sole purpose of leading us astray。 What is the use
of those mischievous and puerile pranks； of those ghastly graveyard
pleasantries？ It must lie then for the mere pleasure of lying； and our
unknown guest； that infinite and doubtless immortal subconsciousness in
which we have placed out last hopes； is after all but an imbecile； a buffoon
or a rank swindler！
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5
I do not believe that the truth is as hideous as this。 Our unknown guest
does not deceive itself any more than it deceives us； but it is we who
deceive ourselves。 It has not the stage to itself； and its voice is not the
voice that sounds in our ears； which were never made to catch the echoes
of a world that is not like ours。 If it could speak to us itself and tell us what
it knows； we should probably at that instant cease to be on this earth。 But
we are immersed in our bodies； entombed prisoners with whom it cannot
communicate at will。 It roams around the walls； it utters warning cries。 It
knocks at every door； but all that reaches us is a vague disquiet； an
indistinct murmur that is sometimes translated to us by a half…awakened
gaoler who； like ourselves； is a lifelong captive。 The gaoler does his best；
he has his own way of speaking； his familiar expressions； he knows；