the unknown guest(陌生客)-第29节
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appreciates the magnitude of certain phenomena。
11
But Muhamed gives unmistakable signs of impatience to show that he
has had enough of spelling。 Thereupon； as a diversion and a reward； his
kind master suggests the extraction of a few square and cubic roots。
Muhamed appears delighted： these are his favourite problems： for he takes
less interest than formerly in the most difficult multiplications and
divisions。 He doubtless thinks them beneath him。
Krall therefore writes on the blackboard various numbers of which I
did not take note。 Moreover； as nobody now contests the fact that the horse
works them with ease； it would hardly be interesting to reproduce here
several rather grim problems of which numerous variants will be found in
the accounts and reports of experiments signed by Drs。 Mackenzie and
Hartkopff； by Overbeck； Clarapede and many others。 What strikes one
particularly is the facility； the quickness； I was almost saying the joyous
carelessness with which the strange mathematician gives the answers。 The
last figure is hardly chalked upon the board before the right hoof is
striking off the units； followed immediately by the left hoof marking the
tens。 There is not a sign of attention or reflection； one is not even aware of
the exact moment at which the horse looks at the problem： and the answer
seems to spring automatically from an invisible intelligence。 Mistakes are
rare or frequent according as it happens to be a good or bad day with the
horse； but； when he is told of them； he nearly always corrects them。 Not
unseldom； the number is reversed： 47； for instance； becomes 74； but he
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puts it right without demur when asked。
I am manifestly dumbfounded； but perhaps these problems are
prepared beforehand？ If they were； it would be very extraordinary； but yet
less surprising than their actual solution。 Krall does not read this suspicion
in my eyes； because they do not show it； nevertheless； to remove the least
shade of it； he asks me to write a number of my own on the black…board
for the horse to find the root。
I must here confess the humiliating ignorance that is the disgrace of
my life。 I have not the faintest idea of the mysteries concealed within these
recondite and complicated operations。 I did my humanities like everybody
else； but； after crossing the useful and familiar frontiers of multiplication
and division I found it impossible to advance any farther into the desolate
regions； bristling with figures； where the square and cubic roots hold sway；
together with all sorts of other monstrous powers； without shapes or faces；
which inspired me with invincible terror。 All the persecutions of my
excellent instructors wore themselves out against a dead wall of stolidity。
Successively disheartened； they left me to my dismal ignorance；
prophesying a most dreary future for me； haunted with bitter regrets。 I
must say that； until now； I had scarcely experienced the effects of these
gloomy predictions； but the hour has come for me to expiate the sins of
my youth。 Nevertheless； I put a good face upon it： and； taking at random
the first figures that suggest themselves to my mind； I boldly write on the
black…board an enormous and most daring number。 Muhamed remains
motionless。 Krall speaks to him sharply； telling him to hurry up。 Muhamed
lifts his right hoof； but does not let it fall。 Krall loses patience； lavishes
prayers； promises and threats； the hoof remains poised； as though to bear
witness to good intentions that cannot be carried out。 Then my host turns
round； looks at the problem and asks me：
〃Does it give an exact root？〃
Exact？ What does he mean？ Are there roots which。 。 。？ But I dare not
go on： my shameful ignorance suddenly flashes before my eyes。 Krall
smiles indulgently and； without making any attempt to supplement an
education which is too much in arrears to allow of the slightest hope；
laboriously works out the problem and declares that the horse was right in
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refusing to give an impossible solution。
12
Muhamed receives our thanks in the form of a lordly portion of carrots；
and a pupil is introduced whose attainments do not tower so high above
mine： Hanschen； the little pony； quick and lively as a big rat。 Like me； he
has never gone beyond elementary arithmetic： and so we shall understand
each other better and meet on equal terms。
Krall asks me for two numbers to multiply。 I give him 63 X 7。 He does
the sum and writes the product on the board； followed by the sign of
division： 441 / 7。 Instantly Hanschen； with a celerity difficult to follow；
gives three blows； or rather three violent scrapes with his right hoof and
six with his left； which makes 63； for we must not forget that in German
they say not sixty…three； but three…and…sixty。 We congratulate him； and； to
evince his satisfaction； he nimbly reverses the number by marking 36 and
then puts it right again by scraping 63。 He is evidently enjoying himself
and juggling with the figures。 And additions； subtractions； multiplications
and divisions follow one after the other； with figures supplied by myself；
so as to remove any idea of collusion。 Hanschen seldom blunders； and；
when he does； we receive a very clear impression that his mistake is
voluntary： he is like a mischievous schoolboy playing a practical joke
upon his master。 The solutions fall thick as hail upon the little spring…
board； the correct answer is released by the question as though you were
pressing the button of an electric push。 The pony's flippancy is as
surprising as his skill。 But in this unruly flippancy； in this hastiness which
seems inattentive there is nevertheless a fixed and permanent idea。
Hanschen paws the ground； kicks； prances； tosses his head； looks as if he
cannot keep still； but never leaves his spring…board。 Is he interested in the
problems； does he enjoy them？ It is impossible to say； but he certainly has
the appearance of one accomplishing a duty or a piece of work which we
do not discuss； which is important； necessary and inevitable。
But the lesson suddenly ends with a joke carried rather too far by the
pupil； who catches his good master by the seat of his trousers； into which
he plants disrespectful teeth。 He is severely reprimanded； deprived of his
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carrots and sent back in disgrace to his private apartments。
13
Next comes Bette； who is like a big； sleek Norman horse。 He makes
the calm； dignified； peaceful entrance of a blind giant。 His large； dark；
brilliant eyes are quite dead； deprived of any reflex power。 He feels about
with his hoof for the board on which he is to rap his answers。 He has not
yet gone beyond the rudiments of mathematics； and the early part of his
education was particularly difficult。 They managed to make him
understand the value and meaning of the numbers and of the addition… and
multiplication…signs by means of little taps on his sides。 Krall speaks to
him as a father might speak to the youngest of his sons。 He explains to him
fondly the easy sums which I suggest his doing： two plus three； eight
minus four； four times three； he says：
〃Mind！ It's not plus three or minus three this time； but four multiplied
by three！〃
Berto hardly ever makes a mistake。 When he does not understand the
question； he waits for it to be written with the finger on his side； and the
careful way in which he works it out like some backward and afflicted
child is an infinitely pathetic sight。 He is much more zealous and
conscientious than his fellow…pupils； and we feel that； in the darkness
wherein he dwells； this work is； next to his mea
