first time。 Our anxiety to see this famous chateau of Rochambeau；
where the owner sometimes treated the boys to milk； made us all very
good； and nothing hindered the outing。 Neither Lambert nor I had ever
seen the pretty valley of the Loire where the house stood。 So his
imagination and mine were much excited by the prospect of this
excursion； which filled the school with traditional glee。 We talked of
it all the evening； planning to spend in fruit or milk such money as
we had saved； against all the habits of school…life。
After dinner next day； we set out at half…past twelve； each provided
with a square hunch of bread； given to us for our afternoon snack。 And
off we went； as gay as swallows； marching in a body on the famous
chateau with an eagerness which would at first allow of no fatigue。
When we reached the hill； whence we looked down on the house standing
half…way down the slope； on the devious valley through which the river
winds and sparkles between meadows in graceful curvesa beautiful
landscape； one of those scenes to which the keen emotions of early
youth or of love lend such a charm； that it is wise never to see them
again in later yearsLouis Lambert said to me； 〃Why； I saw this last
night in a dream。〃
He recognized the clump of trees under which we were standing； the
grouping of the woods； the color of the water； the turrets of the
chateau； the details； the distance； in fact every part of the prospect
which we looked on for the first time。 We were mere children； I； at
any rate； who was but thirteen； Louis； at fifteen； might have the
precocity of genius； but at that time we were incapable of falsehood
in the most trivial matters of our life as friends。 Indeed； if
Lambert's powerful mind had any presentiment of the importance of such
facts； he was far from appreciating their whole bearing； and he was
quite astonished by this incident。 I asked him if he had not perhaps
been brought to Rochambeau in his infancy； and my question struck him；
but after thinking it over； he answered in the negative。 This
incident； analogous to what may be known of the phenomena of sleep in
several persons； will illustrate the beginnings of Lambert's line of
talent； he took it； in fact； as the basis of a whole system； using a
fragmentas Cuvier did in another branch of inquiryas a clue to the
reconstruction of a complete system。
At this moment we were sitting together on an old oak…stump； and after
a few minutes' reflection； Louis said to me：
〃If the landscape did not come to mewhich it is absurd to imagineI
must have come here。 If I was here while I was asleep in my cubicle；
does not that constitute a complete severance of my body and my inner
being？ Does it not prove some inscrutable locomotive faculty in the
spirit with effects resembling those of locomotion in the body？ Well；
then； if my spirit and my body can be severed during sleep； why should
I not insist on their separating in the same way while I am awake？ I
see no half…way mean between the two propositions。
〃But if we go further into details： either the facts are due to the
action of a faculty which brings out a second being to whom my body is
merely a husk； since I was in my cell； and yet I saw the landscape
and this upsets many systems； or the facts took place either in some
nerve centre； of which the name is yet to be discovered； where our
feelings dwell and move； or else in the cerebral centre； where ideas
are formed。 This last hypothesis gives rise to some strange questions。
I walked； I saw； I heard。 Motion is inconceivable but in space； sound
acts only at certain angles or on surfaces； color is caused only by
light。 If； in the dark； with my eyes shut； I saw； in myself； colored
objects； if I heard sounds in the most perfect silence and without the
conditions requisite for the production of sound； if without stirring
I traversed wide tracts of space； there must be inner faculties
independent of the external laws of physics。 Material nature must be
penetrable by the spirit。
〃How is it that men have hitherto given so little thought to the
phenomena of sleep； which seem to prove that man has a double life？
May there not be a new science lying beneath them？〃 he added； striking
his brow with his hand。 〃If not the elements of a science； at any rate
the revelation of stupendous powers in man； at least they prove a
frequent severance of our two natures； the fact I have been thinking
out for a very long time。 At last； then； I have hit on evidence to
show the superiority that distinguishes our latent senses from our
corporeal senses！ /Homo duplex/！
〃And yet；〃 he went on； after a pause； with a doubtful shrug； 〃perhaps
we have not two natures； perhaps we are merely gifted with personal
and perfectible qualities； of which the development within us produces
certain unobserved phenomena of activity； penetration； and vision。 In
our love of the marvelous； a passion begotten of our pride； we have
translated these effects into poetical inventions； because we did not
understand them。 It is so convenient to deify the incomprehensible！
〃I should； I own； lament over the loss of my illusions。 I so much
wished to believe in our twofold nature and in Swedenborg's angels。
Must this new science destroy them？ Yes； for the study of our unknown
properties involves us in a science that appears to be materialistic；
for the Spirit uses； divides； and animates the Substance； but it does
not destroy it。〃
He remained pensive； almost sad。 Perhaps he saw the dreams of his
youth as swaddling clothes that he must soon shake off。
〃Sight and hearing are； no doubt； the sheaths for a very marvelous
instrument；〃 said he； laughing at his own figure of speech。
Always when he was talking to me of Heaven and Hell； he was wont to
treat of Nature as being master； but now； as he pronounced these last
words； big with prescience； he seemed to soar more boldly than ever
above the landscape； and his forehead seemed ready to burst with the
afflatus of genius。 His powersmental powers we must call them till
some new term is foundseemed to flash from the organs intended to
express them。 His eyes shot out thoughts； his uplifted hand； his
silent but tremulous lips were eloquent； his burning glance was
radiant； at last his head； as though too heavy； or exhausted by too
eager a flight； fell on his breast。 This boythis giantbent his
head； took my hand and clasped it in his own； which was damp； so
fevered was he for the search for truth； then； after a pause； he said：
〃I shall be famous！And you； too；〃 he added after a pause。 〃We will
both study the Chemistry of the Will。〃
Noble soul！ I recognized his superiority； though he took great care
never to make me feel it。 He shared with me all the treasures of his
mind； and regarded me as instrumental in his discoveries； leaving me
the credit of my insignificant contributions。 He was always as
gracious as a woman in love； he had all the bashful feeling； the
delicacy of soul which make life happy and pleasant to endure。
On the following day he began writing what he called a /Treatise on
the Will/； his subsequent reflections led to many changes in its plan
and method； but the incident of that day was certainly the germ of the
work； just as the electric shock always felt by Mesmer at the approach
of a particular manservant was the starting…point of his discoveries
in magnetism； a science till then interred under the mysteries of
Isis； of Delphi； of the cave of Trophonius； and rediscovered by that
prodigious genius； close on Lavater； and the precursor of Gall。
Lambert's ideas； suddenly illuminated by this flash of light； assumed
vaster proportions； he disentangled certain truths from his many
acquisitions and brought them into order； then； like a founder； he
cast the model of his work。 At the end of six months' indefatigable
labor； Lambert's writings excited the curiosity of our companions； and
became the object of cruel practical jokes which led to a fatal issue。
One day one of the masters； who was bent on seeing the manuscripts；
enlisted the aid of our tyrants； and came to seize； by force； a box
that contained the precious papers。 Lambert and I defended it with
incredible courage。 The trunk was locked； our aggressors could not
open it； but they tried to smash it in the struggle； a stroke of
malignity at which we shrieked with rage。 Some of the boys； with a
sense of justice； or struck perhaps by our heroic defence； advised the
attacking party to leave us in peace； crushing us with insulting
contempt。 But suddenly； brought to the spot by the noise of a battle；
Father Haugoult roughly intervened； inquiring as to the cause of the
fight。 Our enemies had interrupted us in writing our impositions； and
the class…master came to protect his slaves。 The foe； in self…defence；
betrayed the existence of the manuscript。 The dreadful Haugoult
insisted on our giving up the box； if we should resist； he would have
it broken open。 Lambert gave him the key； the master took out the
papers； glanced through them； and said； as he confiscated them：
〃And it is for such rubbish as this that you neglect your lessons！〃
Large tears fell from Lambert's eyes； wrung from him as much by a
sense of his offended moral superiority as by the gratuitous insult
and betrayal that he had suffered。 We gave the accusers a glance of
stern reproach： had they not delivered us over to the common enemy？ If
the common law of school entitled them to thrash us； did it not
require them to keep silence as to our misdeeds？
In a moment they were no doubt ashamed of their baseness。
Father Haugoult probably sold the /Treatise on the Will/ to a local
grocer； unconscious of the scientific treasure； of which the germs
thus fell into unworthy hands。
Six months later I left the school； and I do not know whether Lambert
ever recommenced his labors。 Our parting threw him into a mood of the
darkest melancholy。
It was in memory of the disaster that befell Louis' book that； in the
tale which comes first in these /Etudes/； I adopted the title invented
by Lambert for a work of fiction； and gave the name of a woman who was
dear to him to a girl characterized by her self…devotion； but this is