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definitely to separate the two phenomena？ To appeal to heredity is still to
appeal to the subliminal； and it is not at all certain that the latter is limited
by the interest of the organism sheltering it。 It appears； on the contrary； in
many circumstances； to spread and extend far beyond that organism in
which it is domiciled； one would say； accidentally and provisionally。 It
likes to show； apparently； that it is in relation with all that exists。 It
declares itself； as often as possible； universal and impersonal。 It has but a
very indifferent care； as we have seen in the matter of apparitions and
premonitions； for the happiness and even the safety of its host and
protector。 It prophesies to its companion of a lifetime events which he
cannot avoid or which do not concern him。 It makes him see beforehand；
for instance； all the circumstances of the death of a stranger whom he will
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only hear of after the event； when this event is irrevocable。 It brings a
crowd of barren presentiments and conjures up veridical hallucinations
that are wholly alien and idle。 With psychometric； typtological or
materializing mediums； it practises art for art's sake； mocks at space and
time； passes through personalities； sees through solid bodies； brings into
communication thoughts and motions worlds apart； reads souls and lives
by the light of a flower； a rag of a scrap of paper； and all this for nothing；
to amuse itself； to astonish us； because it adores the superfluous； the
incoherent； the unexpected； the improbable； the bewildering； or rather；
perhaps； because it is a huge； rough； undisciplined force still struggling in
the darkness and coming to the surface only by wild fits and starts；
because it is an enormous expansion of a spirit striving to collect itself； to
achieve consciousness； to make itself of service and to obtain a hearing。 In
any case； for the time being； it appeals just what we have described； and
would be unlike itself if it behaved any otherwise in the case that puzzles
us。
34
Lastly； to close this chapter； let us remark that it is nearly certain that
the solution given by calculating children and horses is not of a
mathematical nature at all。 They do not in any way consider the problem
or the sum to be worked。 They simply find the answer straight away to a
riddle； the guessing of which is made easy by the actual nature of figures
which keep their secrets badly。 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
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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
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the history of psychology； of morality； of human destiny and of many
other thing