Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the unknown guest >

µÚ15½Ú

the unknown guest-µÚ15½Ú

С˵£º the unknown guest ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



¡¡morning¡¡sleep¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡is¡¡putting¡¡it¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cradle£»¡¡she¡¡hears¡¡the¡¡usual¡¡mysterious¡¡voice¡¡whisper¡¡in¡¡her¡¡ear£º

¡¨Turn¡¡the¡¡mattress¡£¡¨

But£»¡¡being¡¡in¡¡a¡¡great¡¡hurry£»¡¡she¡¡simply¡¡says¡¡that¡¡she¡¡will¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡mattress¡¡after¡¡the¡¡child¡¡has¡¡taken¡¡its¡¡nap¡£¡¡She¡¡then¡¡goes¡¡downstairs¡¡to¡¡work¡£¡¡After¡¡a¡¡while£»¡¡she¡¡hears¡¡the¡¡child¡¡cry¡¡and£»¡¡hurrying¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡room£»¡¡finds¡¡the¡¡crib¡¡and¡¡its¡¡bedding¡¡on¡¡fire¡¡and¡¡the¡¡child¡¡so¡¡badly¡¡burnt¡¡that¡¡it¡¡dies¡¡in¡¡three¡¡hours¡£

14

Before¡¡going¡¡further¡¡and¡¡theorizing¡¡about¡¡this¡¡case£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡once¡¡more¡¡state¡¡the¡¡matter¡¡precisely¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡reader¡¡may¡¡straightway¡¡and¡¡quite¡¡legitimately¡¡deny¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡anecdotes¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡say¡¡that¡¡we¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡a¡¡neurotic¡¡who¡¡has¡¡drawn¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡imagination¡¡for¡¡all¡¡the¡¡elements¡¡that¡¡give¡¡a¡¡dramatic¡¡setting¡¡to¡¡the¡¡story¡¡and¡¡surround¡¡with¡¡a¡¡halo¡¡of¡¡mystery¡¡a¡¡sad¡¡but¡¡commonplace¡¡domestic¡¡accident¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡possible£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡perfectly¡¡allowable¡¡to¡¡dismiss¡¡the¡¡case¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡none¡¡the¡¡less¡¡true¡¡that£»¡¡by¡¡thus¡¡deliberately¡¡rejecting¡¡everything¡¡that¡¡does¡¡not¡¡bear¡¡the¡¡stamp¡¡of¡¡mathematical¡¡or¡¡judicial¡¡certainty£»¡¡we¡¡risk¡¡losing¡¡as¡¡we¡¡go¡¡along¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡opportunities¡¡or¡¡clues¡¡which¡¡the¡¡great¡¡riddle¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world¡¡offers¡¡us¡¡in¡¡its¡¡moments¡¡of¡¡inattention¡¡or¡¡graciousness¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡an¡¡enquiry¡¡we¡¡must¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡content¡¡ourselves¡¡with¡¡little¡£¡¡For¡¡the¡¡incident¡¡in¡¡question¡¡to¡¡be¡¡convincing£»¡¡previous¡¡evidence¡¡in¡¡writing£»¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡official¡¡statements¡¡would¡¡be¡¡required£»¡¡whereas¡¡we¡¡have¡¡only¡¡the¡¡declarations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡husband£»¡¡a¡¡neighbour¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sister¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡insufficient£»¡¡I¡¡agree£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡must¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡confess¡¡that¡¡the¡¡circumstances¡¡are¡¡hardly¡¡favourable¡¡to¡¡obtaining¡¡the¡¡proofs¡¡which¡¡we¡¡demand¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡receive¡¡warnings¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind¡¡either¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡them¡¡or¡¡do¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡them¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡quite¡¡natural¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should¡¡not¡¡think¡¡first¡¡of¡¡all¡¡of¡¡the¡¡scientific¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡their¡¡trouble£»¡¡or¡¡of¡¡putting¡¡down¡¡in¡¡writing¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡authenticating¡¡its¡¡premonitory¡¡symptoms¡¡and¡¡gradual¡¡evolution¡£¡¡If¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡them£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡no¡¡less¡¡natural¡¡that¡¡they¡¡should¡¡not¡¡proceed¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡or¡¡take¡¡notice¡¡of¡¡inanities¡¡of¡¡which¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡recognize¡¡the¡¡value¡¡until¡¡after¡¡they¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡the¡¡opportunity¡¡of¡¡supplying¡¡convincing¡¡proofs¡¡of¡¡them¡£¡¡Also£»¡¡do¡¡not¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡the¡¡little¡¡story¡¡in¡¡question¡¡is¡¡selected¡¡from¡¡among¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡others£»¡¡which¡¡in¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡are¡¡equally¡¡indecisive£»¡¡but¡¡which£»¡¡repeating¡¡the¡¡same¡¡facts¡¡and¡¡the¡¡same¡¡tendencies¡¡with¡¡a¡¡strange¡¡persistency£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡weakening¡¡the¡¡most¡¡inveterate¡¡distrust¡££§1£§

£§1£§¡¡See£»¡¡in¡¡particular£»¡¡Bozzano's¡¡cases¡¡xlix¡£¡¡and¡¡lxvii¡£¡¡These¡¡two£»¡¡especially¡¡case¡¡xlix¡££»¡¡which¡¡tells¡¡of¡¡a¡¡personal¡¡experience¡¡of¡¡the¡¡late¡¡W¡£¡¡T¡£¡¡Stead£»¡¡are¡¡supported¡¡by¡¡more¡¡substantial¡¡proofs¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡quoted¡¡Professor¡¡Hyslop's¡¡case£»¡¡because¡¡the¡¡reticence¡¡is¡¡more¡¡striking¡£


15

Having¡¡said¡¡this¡¡much£»¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡conciliate¡¡or¡¡part¡¡company¡¡with¡¡those¡¡who¡¡have¡¡no¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡leaving¡¡the¡¡terra¡¡firma¡¡of¡¡science£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡case¡¡before¡¡us£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡all¡¡the¡¡more¡¡disquieting¡¡inasmuch¡¡as¡¡we¡¡may¡¡consider¡¡it¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡prototype¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tragic¡¡and¡¡almost¡¡diabolical¡¡reticence¡¡which¡¡we¡¡find¡¡in¡¡most¡¡premonitions¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡probable¡¡that¡¡under¡¡the¡¡mattress¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡stray¡¡match¡¡which¡¡the¡¡child¡¡discovered¡¡and¡¡struck£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡possible¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡catastrophe£»¡¡for¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡fire¡¡burning¡¡on¡¡that¡¡floor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡house¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡mother¡¡had¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡mattress£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡match£»¡¡and£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡certainly¡¡have¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡mattress¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡told¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡match¡¡underneath¡¡it¡£¡¡Why¡¡did¡¡the¡¡voice¡¡that¡¡urged¡¡her¡¡to¡¡perform¡¡the¡¡necessary¡¡action¡¡not¡¡add¡¡the¡¡one¡¡word¡¡that¡¡was¡¡capable¡¡of¡¡ensuring¡¡that¡¡action£¿¡¡The¡¡problem¡¡moreover¡¡is¡¡equally¡¡perturbing¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡equally¡¡insoluble¡¡whether¡¡it¡¡concerns¡¡our¡¡own¡¡subconscious¡¡faculties£»¡¡or¡¡spirits£»¡¡or¡¡strange¡¡intelligences¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡give¡¡these¡¡warnings¡¡must¡¡know¡¡that¡¡they¡¡will¡¡be¡¡useless£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡manifestly¡¡foresee¡¡the¡¡event¡¡as¡¡a¡¡whole£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡must¡¡also¡¡know¡¡that¡¡one¡¡last¡¡word£»¡¡which¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡pronounce£»¡¡would¡¡be¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡the¡¡misfortune¡¡that¡¡is¡¡already¡¡consummated¡¡in¡¡their¡¡prevision¡£¡¡They¡¡know¡¡it¡¡so¡¡well¡¡that¡¡they¡¡bring¡¡this¡¡word¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡abyss£»¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡suspended¡¡there£»¡¡almost¡¡let¡¡it¡¡fall¡¡and¡¡recapture¡¡it¡¡suddenly¡¡at¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡when¡¡its¡¡weight¡¡would¡¡have¡¡caused¡¡happiness¡¡and¡¡life¡¡to¡¡rise¡¡once¡¡more£»¡¡to¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡the¡¡mighty¡¡gulf¡£¡¡What¡¡then¡¡is¡¡this¡¡mystery£¿¡¡Is¡¡it¡¡incapacity¡¡or¡¡hostility£¿¡¡If¡¡they¡¡are¡¡incapable£»¡¡what¡¡is¡¡the¡¡unexpected¡¡and¡¡sovereign¡¡force¡¡that¡¡interposes¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡us£¿¡¡And£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡are¡¡hostile£»¡¡on¡¡what£»¡¡on¡¡whom¡¡are¡¡they¡¡revenging¡¡themselves£¿¡¡What¡¡can¡¡be¡¡the¡¡secret¡¡of¡¡those¡¡inhuman¡¡games£»¡¡of¡¡those¡¡uncanny¡¡and¡¡cruel¡¡diversions¡¡on¡¡the¡¡most¡¡slippery¡¡and¡¡dangerous¡¡peaks¡¡of¡¡fate£¿¡¡Why¡¡warn£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡warning¡¡will¡¡be¡¡in¡¡vain£¿¡¡Of¡¡whom¡¡are¡¡they¡¡making¡¡sport£¿¡¡Is¡¡there¡¡really¡¡an¡¡inflexible¡¡fatality¡¡by¡¡virtue¡¡of¡¡which¡¡that¡¡which¡¡has¡¡to¡¡be¡¡accomplished¡¡is¡¡accomplished¡¡from¡¡all¡¡eternity£¿¡¡But¡¡then¡¡why¡¡not¡¡respect¡¡silence£»¡¡since¡¡all¡¡speech¡¡is¡¡useless£¿¡¡Or¡¡do¡¡they£»¡¡in¡¡spite¡¡of¡¡all£»¡¡perceive¡¡a¡¡gleam£»¡¡a¡¡crevice¡¡in¡¡the¡¡inexorable¡¡wall£¿¡¡What¡¡hope¡¡do¡¡they¡¡find¡¡in¡¡it£¿¡¡Have¡¡they¡¡not¡¡seen¡¡more¡¡clearly¡¡than¡¡ourselves¡¡that¡¡no¡¡deliverance¡¡can¡¡come¡¡through¡¡that¡¡crevice£¿¡¡One¡¡could¡¡understand¡¡this¡¡fluttering¡¡and¡¡wavering£»¡¡all¡¡these¡¡efforts¡¡of¡¡theirs£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know£»¡¡but¡¡here¡¡it¡¡is¡¡proved¡¡that¡¡they¡¡know¡¡everything£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡foretell¡¡exactly¡¡that¡¡which¡¡they¡¡might¡¡prevent¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡press¡¡them¡¡with¡¡questions£»¡¡they¡¡answer¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡that¡¡no¡¡human¡¡power¡¡could¡¡avert¡¡or¡¡thwart¡¡the¡¡issue¡£¡¡Are¡¡they¡¡mad£»¡¡bored£»¡¡irritable£»¡¡or¡¡accessory¡¡to¡¡a¡¡hideous¡¡pleasantry£¿¡¡Does¡¡our¡¡fate¡¡depend¡¡on¡¡the¡¡happy¡¡solution¡¡of¡¡some¡¡petty¡¡enigma¡¡or¡¡childish¡¡conundrum£»¡¡even¡¡as¡¡our¡¡salvation£»¡¡in¡¡most¡¡of¡¡the¡¡so¡­called¡¡revealed¡¡religious£»¡¡is¡¡settled¡¡by¡¡a¡¡blind¡¡and¡¡stupid¡¡cast¡¡of¡¡the¡¡die£¿¡¡Is¡¡all¡¡the¡¡liberty¡¡that¡¡we¡¡are¡¡granted¡¡reduced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡reading¡¡of¡¡a¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡ingenious¡¡riddle£¿¡¡Can¡¡the¡¡great¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe¡¡be¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡a¡¡great¡¡baby£¿

16

But£»¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡pursue¡¡this¡¡subject£»¡¡let¡¡us¡¡be¡¡just¡¡and¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡perhaps¡¡no¡¡way¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡maze¡¡and¡¡that¡¡our¡¡reproaches¡¡are¡¡as¡¡incomprehensible¡¡as¡¡the¡¡conduct¡¡of¡¡the¡¡spirits¡£¡¡Indeed£»¡¡what¡¡would¡¡you¡¡have¡¡them¡¡do¡¡in¡¡the¡¡circle¡¡in¡¡which¡¡our¡¡logic¡¡imprisons¡¡them£¿¡¡Either¡¡they¡¡foretell¡¡us¡¡a¡¡calamity¡¡which¡¡their¡¡predictions¡¡cannot¡¡avert£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡case¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡use¡¡in¡¡foretelling¡¡it£»¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡they¡¡announce¡¡it¡¡to¡¡us¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡give¡¡us¡¡the¡¡means¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡it£»¡¡they¡¡do¡¡not¡¡really¡¡see¡¡the¡¡future¡¡and¡¡are¡¡foretelling¡¡nothing£»¡¡since¡¡the¡¡calamity¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡take¡¡place£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡result¡¡that¡¡their¡¡action¡¡seems¡¡equally¡¡absurd¡¡in¡¡both¡¡cases¡£

It¡¡is¡¡obvious£º¡¡to¡¡whichever¡¡side¡¡we¡¡turn£»¡¡we¡¡find¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡the¡¡incomprehensible¡£¡¡On¡¡the¡¡one¡¡hand£»¡¡the¡¡preestablished£»¡¡unshakable£»¡¡unalterable¡¡future¡¡which¡¡we¡¡have¡¡called¡¡destiny£»¡¡fatality¡¡or¡¡what¡¡you¡¡will£»¡¡which¡¡suppresses¡¡man's¡¡entire¡¡independence¡¡and¡¡liberty¡¡of¡¡action¡¡and¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡most¡¡inconceivable¡¡and¡¡the¡¡dreariest¡¡of¡¡mysteries£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡intelligences¡¡apparently¡¡superior¡¡to¡¡our¡¡own£»¡¡since¡¡they¡¡know¡¡what¡¡we¡¡do¡¡not£»¡¡which£»¡¡while¡¡aware¡¡that¡¡their¡¡intervention¡¡is¡¡always¡¡useless¡¡and¡¡very¡¡often¡¡cruel£»¡¡nevertheless¡¡come¡¡harassing¡¡us¡¡with¡¡their¡¡sinister¡¡and¡¡ridiculous¡¡predictions¡£¡¡Must¡¡we¡¡resign¡¡ourselves¡¡once¡¡more¡¡to¡¡living¡¡with¡¡our¡¡eyes¡¡shut¡¡and¡¡our¡¡reason¡¡drowned¡¡in¡¡the¡¡boundless¡¡ocean¡¡of¡¡darkness£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡there¡¡no¡¡outlet£¿

17

For¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡we¡¡will¡¡not¡¡linger¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dark¡¡regions¡¡of¡¡fatality£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡supreme¡¡mystery£»¡¡the¡¡desolation¡¡of¡¡every¡¡effort¡¡and¡¡every¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡man¡£¡¡What¡¡is¡¡clearest¡¡amid¡¡this¡¡incomprehensibility¡¡is¡¡that¡¡the¡¡spiritualistic¡¡theory£»¡¡at¡¡first¡¡sight¡¡the¡¡most¡¡seductive£»¡¡declares¡¡itself£»¡¡on¡¡examination£»¡¡the¡¡most¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡justify¡£¡¡We¡¡will¡¡also¡¡once¡¡more¡¡put¡¡aside¡¡the¡¡theosophical¡¡theory¡¡or¡¡any¡¡other¡¡which¡¡assumes¡¡a¡¡divine¡¡intention¡¡and¡¡which¡¡might£»¡¡to¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡extent£»¡¡explain¡¡the¡¡hesitations¡¡and¡¡anguish¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prophetic¡¡warnings£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡cost£»¡¡however£»¡¡of¡¡other¡¡puzzles£»¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡times¡¡as¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡solve£»¡¡which¡¡nothing¡¡authorizes¡¡us¡¡to¡¡substitute¡¡for¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡puzzle£»¡¡formless¡¡and¡¡infinite£»¡¡presented¡¡to¡¡our¡¡uninitiated¡¡vision¡£

When¡¡all¡¡is¡¡said£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡perhaps¡¡only¡¡in¡¡the¡¡theory¡¡which¡¡attributes¡¡those¡¡premonitions¡¡to¡¡our¡¡subconsciousness¡¡that¡¡we¡¡are¡¡able¡¡to¡¡find£»¡¡if¡¡not¡¡a¡¡justification£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡explanation¡¡of¡¡that¡¡formidable¡¡reticence¡£¡¡They¡¡accord¡¡fairly¡¡well¡¡with¡¡the¡¡strange£»¡¡inconsistent£»¡¡whimsical¡¡and¡¡disconcerting¡¡character¡¡of¡¡the¡¡unknown¡¡entity¡¡within¡¡us¡¡that¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡live¡¡on¡¡nothing¡¡but¡¡nondescript¡¡fare¡¡borrowed¡¡from¡¡worlds¡¡to¡¡which¡¡nor¡¡intelligence¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡has¡¡no¡¡access¡£¡¡It¡¡lives¡¡under¡¡our¡¡reason£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡invisible¡¡and¡¡perhaps¡¡eternal¡¡palace£»¡¡like¡¡a¡¡casual¡¡guest£»¡¡dropped¡¡from¡¡another¡¡planet£»¡¡whose¡¡interests£»¡¡ideas£»¡¡habits£»¡¡passions¡¡have¡¡naught¡¡in¡¡common¡¡with¡¡ours¡£¡¡If¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡notions¡¡on¡¡the¡¡hereafter¡¡that¡¡are¡¡infinitely¡¡wider¡¡and¡¡more¡¡precise¡¡than¡¡those¡¡which¡¡we¡¡possess£»¡¡it¡¡has¡¡only¡¡very¡¡vague¡¡notions¡¡on¡¡the¡¡practical¡¡needs¡¡of¡¡our¡¡existence¡£¡¡It¡¡ignores¡¡us¡¡for¡¡years£»¡¡absorbed¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡with¡¡the¡¡numberless¡¡relations¡¡which¡¡it¡¡maintains¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡mysteries¡¡of¡¡the¡¡universe£»¡¡and£»¡¡when¡¡suddenly¡¡it¡¡remembers¡¡us£»¡¡thinking¡¡apparently¡¡to¡¡please¡¡us£»¡¡it¡¡makes¡¡an¡¡enormous£»

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨0£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ