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dly。 To any one in the requisite state of mind； it becomes a question of a sort of elementary charade； which hides its answer only from those who speak another language。 It is evident that every problem； however complex it may appear； carries within its very enunciation its one； invariable solution； scarce veiled by the indiscreet signs that contain or cover it。 It is there； under the numbers that have no other object than to give it life； coming； stirring and ceaselessly proclaiming itself a necessity。 It is not surprising therefore that eyes sharper than ours and ears open to other vibrations should see and hear it without knowing what it represents； what it implies or from what prodigious mass of figures and operations it merges。 The problem itself speaks； and the horse but repeats the sign which he hears whispered in the mysterious life of numbers or deep down in； the abyss where the eternal verities hold sway。 He understands none of it； he has no need to understand； he is but the unconscious medium who lends his voice or his limbs to the mind that inspires him。 There is here but a bare and simple answer； bearing no precise significance； seized in an alien existence。 There is here but a mechanical revelation； so to speak； a sort of special reflex which we can only record and which； for the rest； is as inexplicable as any other phenomenon of consciousness or instinct。 After all； when we think of it； it is just as； astonishing that we should not perceive the solution as it is that we should discover it。 However； I grant that all this is but a venturesome interpretation to be taken for what it is worth； an experimental or interim theory with which we must needs content ourselves since all the others have hitherto been controverted by the facts。
35
Let us now briefly sum up what the Elberfeld experiments have yielded us。 Having put aside telepathy in the narrow sensewhich perhaps enters into more than one phenomenon but is not indispensable to it； for we see these same phenomena repeated when telepathy is practically impossiblewe cannot help observing that； if we deny the existence or the influence of the subliminal； it is all the more difficult to contest the existence and the intervention of the intelligence； at any rate up to the extracting of roots； after which there is a steep precipice which ends in darkness。 But； even if we stop at the roots； the sudden discovery of an intellectual force so similar to our own； where we were accustomed to see but an irremediable impotency； is no doubt one of the most unexpected revelations that we have received since the invisible and the unknown began to press upon us with a persistence and an impatience which they had not displayed heretofore。 It is not easy to foresee as yet the consequences and the promises of this new aspect which the great riddle of the intelligence is suddenly adopting。 But I believe that we shall soon have to revise some of the essential ideas which are the foundations of our life and that some rather strange horizons are appearing out of the mists in the history of psychology； of morality； of human destiny and of many other things。
36
So much for the intelligence。 On the other hand； what we deny to the intelligence we are constrained to grant to the subliminal； and the revelation is even more disconcerting。 We should then have to admit that them is in the horseand hence most probably in everything that lives on this eartha psychic power similar to that which is hidden beneath the veil of our reason and which； as we learn to know it； astonishes； surpasses and dominates our reason more and more。 This psychic power； in which no doubt we shall one day be forced to recognize the genius of the universe itself； appears； as we have often observed； to be all…wise； all…seeing and all…powerful。 It has； when it is pleased to communicate with us or when we are allowed to penetrate into it； an answer for every question； and perhaps a remedy for every ill。 We will not enumerate its virtues again。 It will be enough for us to recall with what ease it mocks at space； time and all the obstacles that beset our poor human knowledge and understanding。 We believed it； like all that seems to us superior and marvellous； the intangible； inalienable and incommunicable attribute of man； with even better reason than his intelligence。 And now an accident； strangely belated； it is true； tells us that； at one precise point； the strangest and least foreseen of all； the horse and the dog draw more easily and perhaps more directly than ourselves upon its mighty reservoirs。 By the most inexplicable of anomalies； though one that is fairly consistent with the fantastic character of the subliminal； they appear to have access to it only at the spot that is most remote from their habits and most unknown to their propensities； for there is nothing in the world about which animals trouble less than figures。 But is this not； perhaps because we do not see what goes on elsewhere？ It so happens that the infinite mystery of numbers can sometimes be expressed by a very few simple movements which are natural to most animals； but there is nothing to tell us that； if we could teach the horse and the dog to attach to these same movements the expression of other mysteries； they would not draw upon them with equal facility。 It has been successfully attempted to give them a more or less clear idea of the value of a few figures and perhaps of the course and nature of certain elementary operations； and this appears to have been enough to open up to them the most secret regions of mathematics in which every question is answered beforehand。 It is not wholly illusive to suppose that； if we could impart to them； for instance； a similar notion of the future； together with a manner of conveying to us what they see there； they might also have access to strange visions of another class； which are jealously kept from us by the too…watchful guardians of our intelligence。 There is an opportunity here for experiments which will doubtless prove exceedingly arduous； for the future is not so easily seen and above all not so easily interpreted and expressed as a number。 It is possible； moreover； that； when we know how to set about it； we shall obtain most of the human mediumistic phenomena； rapping； the moving of objects； materialization even and Heaven knows what other surprises held in store for us by that astounding subliminal to whose fancy there appears to be no bounds。 In any case； if we accept the divining of numbers； as we are almost forced to do； it is almost certain that the divining of other matters must follow。 An unexpected breach is made in the wall behind which lie heaped the great secrets that seem to us； as our knowledge and our civilization increase； to become stronger and more inaccessible。 True； it is a narrow breach； but it is the first that has been opened in that part of the hitherto uncrannied wall which is not turned towards mankind。 What will issue through it？ No one can foretell what we may hope。
37
What astonishes us most is that this revelation has been so long delayed。 How are we to explain that man has lived to this day with his domestic animals never suspecting that they harboured mediumi