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or that that which does not yet exists already at the same time at which it is
no more。 But； on the other hand； it is just as hard to conceive that the
future does not preexist； that there is nothing before the present and that
everything is only present or past。 It is very probable that； to a more
universal intelligence than ours； everything is but an eternal present； an
immense punctum stans； as the metaphysicians say； in which all the events
are on one plane； but it is no less probable that we ourselves； so long as we
are men； in order to understand anything of this eternal present； will
always be obliged to divide it into three parts。 Thus caught between two
mysteries equally baffling to our intelligence； whether we deny or admit
the preexistence of the future； we are really only wrangling over words： in
the one case； we give the name of 〃present；〃 from the point of view of a
perfect intelligence； to that which to us is the future； in the other； we give
the name of 〃future〃 to that which； from the point of view of a perfect
intelligence； is the present。 But； after all； it is incontestable in both cases
that； at least from our point of view； the future preexists； since
preexistence is the only name by which we can describe and the only form
under which we can conceive that which we do not yet see in the present。
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Attempts have been made to shed light on the riddle by transferring it
to space。 It is true that it there loses the greater part of its obscurity； but
this apparently is because； in changing its environment； it has completely
changed its nature and no longer bears any relation to what it was when it
was placed in time。 We are told； for instance； that innumerable cities
distributed over the surface of the earth are to us as if they were not； so
long as we have not seen them； and only begin to exist on the day when
we visit them。 That is true； but space； outside all metaphysical
speculations； has realities for us which time does not possess。 Space；
although very mysterious and incomprehensible once we pass certain
limits； is nevertheless not； like time； incomprehensible and illusory in all
its parts。 We are certainly quite able to conceive that those towns which
we have never seen and doubtless never will see indubitably exist；
whereas we find it much more difficult to imagine that the catastrophe
which； fifty years hence； will annihilate one of them already exists as
really as the town itself。 We are capable of picturing a spot whence； with
keener eyes than these which we boast to…day； we should see in one glance
all the cities of the earth and even those of other worlds； but it is much less
easy for us to imagine a point in the ages whence we should
simultaneously discover the past； the present and the future because the
past； the present and the future are three orders of duration which cannot
find room at the same time in our intelligence and which inevitably devour
one other。 How can we picture to ourselves； for instance； a point in
eternity at which our little procession already exists； while it is not yet and
although it is no more？ Add to this the thought that it is necessary and
inevitable； from the millenaries which had no beginning； that； at a given
moment； at a given place； the little procession should leave the little
church in a given manner and that no known or imaginable will can
change anything in it； in the future any more than in the past； and we begin
to understand that there is no hope of understanding。
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29
We find among the cases collected by M。 Bozzano a singular
premonition wherein the unknown factors of space and time are continued
in a very curious fashion。 In August； 1910； Cavalliere Giovanni de
Figueroa； one of the most famous fencing masters at Palermo； dreamt that
he was in the country； going along a road white with dust； which brought
him to a broad ploughed field。 In the middle of the field stood a rustic
building； with a ground…floor used for store…rooms and cow…sheds and on
the right a rough hut made of branches and a cart with some harness lying
in it。
A peasant wearing dark trousers； with a black felt hat on his head；
came forward to meet him； asked him to follow him and took him round
behind the house。 Through a low； narrow door they entered a little stable
with a short； winding stone staircase leading to a loft over the entrance to
the house。 A mule fastened to a swinging manger was blocking the bottom
step； and the chevalier had to push it aside before climbing the staircase。
On reaching the loft； he noticed that from the ceiling were suspended
strings of melons； tomatoes； onions and Indian corn。 In this room were
two women and a little girl； and through a door leading to another room he
caught sight of an extremely high bed； unlike any that he had ever seen
before。 Here the dream broke off。 It seemed to him so strange that he
spoke of it to several of his friends； whom he mentions by name and who
are ready to confirm his statements。
On the 12th of October in the same year； in order to support a fellow…
townsman in a duel； he accompanied the seconds； by motorcar； from
Naples to Marano； a place which he had never visited nor even heard of。
As soon as they were some way in the country； he was curiously
impressed by the white and dusty road。 The car pulled up at the side of a
field which he at once recognized。 They lighted； and he remarked to one
of the seconds： 〃This is not the first time that I have been here。 There
should be a house at the end of this path and on the right a hut and a cart
with some harness in it。〃
As a matter of fact； everything was as he described it。 An instant later；
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THE UNKNOWN GUEST
at the