white bones could be seen the traces of dried blood。
The food was a riddle which I could not solve。 Was it good？ Was it bad？
I could not say。 Some roast monkey took away all desire to make a steady
diet of this animal； and the great monkey who roamed about among us at
large and playfully pushed his head into my glass when I wished to drink
cured me of any desire I might have to take one of his brothers as a
companion for the rest of my days。
As for the two men； they gave me the impression of two strange； original；
remarkable minds； belonging to that peculiar race of talented madmen from
among whom have arisen Poe； Hoffmann and many others。
If genius is； as is commonly believed； a sort of aberration of great
minds； then Algernon Charles Swinburne is undoubtedly a genius。
Great minds that are healthy are never considered geniuses； while this
sublime qualification is lavished on brains that are often inferior but
are slightly touched by madness。
At any rate； this poet remains one of the first of his time； through his
originality and polished form。 He is an exalted lyrical singer who
seldom bothers about the good and humble truth； which French poets are
now seeking so persistently and patiently。 He strives to set down
dreams； subtle thoughts； sometimes great； sometimes visibly forced； but
sometimes magnificent。
Two years later I found the house closed and its tenants gone。 The
furniture was being sold。 In memory of them I bought the hideous flayed
hand。 On the grass an enormous square block of granite bore this simple
word： 〃Nip。〃 Above this a hollow stone offered water to the birds。 It
was the grave of the monkey； who had been hanged by a young； vindictive
negro servant。 It was said that this violent domestic had been forced to
flee at the point of his exasperated master's revolver。 After wandering
about without home or food for several days； he returned and began to
peddle barley…sugar in the streets。 He was expelled from the country
after he had almost strangled a displeased customer。
The world would be gayer if one could often meet homes like that。
This story appeared in the 〃Gaulois；〃 November 29； 1882。 It was the
original sketch for the introductory study of Swinburne； written by
Maupassant for the French translation by Gabriel Mourey of 〃Poems
and Ballads。〃
MAGNETISM
It was a men's dinner party； and they were sitting over their cigars and
brandy and discussing magnetism。 Donato's tricks and Charcot's
experiments。 Presently； the sceptical； easy…going men； who cared nothing
for religion of any sort； began telling stories of strange occurrences；
incredible things which； nevertheless； had really occurred； so they said；
falling back into superstitious beliefs； clinging to these last remnants
of the marvellous； becoming devotees of this mystery of magnetism；
defending it in the name of science。 There was only one person who
smiled； a vigorous young fellow； a great ladies' man who was so
incredulous that he would not even enter upon a discussion of such
matters。
He repeated with a sneer：
〃Humbug！ humbug！ humbug！ We need not discuss Donato； who is merely a
very smart juggler。 As for M。 Charcot； who is said to be a remarkable
man of science； he produces on me the effect of those story…tellers of
the school of Edgar Poe； who end by going mad through constantly
reflecting on queer cases of insanity。 He has authenticated some cases
of unexplained and inexplicable nervous phenomena； he makes his way into
that unknown region which men are exploring every day； and unable always
to understand what he sees； he recalls； perhaps； the ecclesiastical
interpretation of these mysteries。 I should like to hear what he says
himself。〃
The words of the unbeliever were listened to with a kind of pity； as if
he had blasphemed in an assembly of monks。
One of these gentlemen exclaimed：
〃And yet miracles were performed in olden times。〃
〃I deny it；〃 replied the other： 〃Why cannot they be performed now？〃
Then； each mentioned some fact； some fantastic presentiment some instance
of souls communicating with each other across space； or some case of the
secret influence of one being over another。 They asserted and maintained
that these things had actually occurred； while the sceptic angrily
repeated：
〃Humbug！ humbug！ humbug！〃
At last he rose； threw away his cigar； and with his hands in his pockets；
said： 〃Well； I also have two stories to tell you； which I will afterwards
explain。 Here they are：
〃In the little village of Etretat； the men； who are all seafaring folk；
go every year to Newfoundland to fish for cod。 One night the little son
of one of these fishermen woke up with a start； crying out that his
father was dead。 The child was quieted； and again he woke up exclaiming
that his father was drowned。 A month later the news came that his father
had； in fact； been swept off the deck of his smack by a billow。 The
widow then remembered how her son had woke up and spoken of his father's
death。 Everyone said it was a miracle； and the affair caused a great
sensation。 The dates were compared； and it was found that the accident
and the dream were almost coincident； whence they concluded that they had
happened on the same night and at the same hour。 And there is a mystery
of magnetism。〃
The story…teller stopped suddenly。
Thereupon； one of those who had heard him； much affected by the
narrative； asked：
〃And can you explain this？〃
〃Perfectly； monsieur。 I have discovered the secret。 The circumstance
surprised me and even perplexed me very much； but you see； I do not
believe on principle。 Just as others begin by believing； I begin by
doubting； and when I cannot understand； I continue to deny that there can
be any telepathic communication between souls； certain that my own
intelligence will be able to explain it。 Well； I kept on inquiring into
the matter； and by dint of questioning all the wives of the absent
seamen； I was convinced that not a week passed without one of them； or
one of their children dreaming and declaring when they woke up that the
father was drowned。 The horrible and continual fear of this accident
makes them always talk about it。 Now； if one of these frequent
predictions coincides； by a very simple chance； with the death of the
person referred to； people at once declare it to be a miracle； for they
suddenly lose sight of all the other predictions of misfortune that have
remained unfulfilled。 I have myself known fifty cases where the persons
who made the prediction forgot all about it a week after wards。 But； if；
then one happens to die； then the recollection of the thing is
immediately revived； and people are ready to believe in the intervention
of God； according to some； and magnetism； according to others。〃
One of the smokers remarked：
〃What you say is right enough； but what about your second story？〃
〃Oh！ my second story is a very delicate matter to relate。 It happened
to myself； and so I don't place any great value on my own view of the
matter。 An interested party can never give an impartial opinion。
However； here it is：
〃Among my acquaintances was a young woman on whom I had never bestowed a
thought； whom I had never even looked at attentively； never taken any
notice of。
〃I classed her among the women of no importance； though she was not bad…
looking； she appeared； in fact； to possess eyes； a nose； a mouth； some
sort of hairjust a colorless type of countenance。 She was one of those
beings who awaken only a chance； passing thought； but no special
interest； no desire。
〃Well； one night； as I was writing some letters by my fireside before
going to bed； I was conscious； in the midst of that train of sensuous
visions that sometimes pass through one's brain in moments of idle
reverie； of a kind of slight influence； passing over me； a little flutter
of the heart； and immediately； without any cause； without any logical
connection of thought； I saw distinctly； as if I were touching her； saw
from head to foot； and disrobed； this young woman to whom I had never
given more that three seconds' thought at a time。 I suddenly discovered
in her a number of qualities which I had never before observed； a sweet
charm； a languorous fascination； she awakened in me that sort of restless
emotion that causes one to pursue a woman。 But I did not think of her
long。 I went to bed and was soon asleep。 And I dreamed。
〃You have all had these strange dreams which make you overcome the
impossible； which open to you double…locked doors； unexpected joys；
tightly folded arms？
〃Which of us in these troubled； excising； breathless slumbers； has not
held； clasped； embraced with rapture； the woman who occupied his
thoughts？ And have you ever noticed what superhuman delight these happy
dreams give us？ Into what mad intoxication they cast you！ with what
passionate spasms they shake you！ and with what infinite； caressing；
penetrating tenderness they fill your heart for her whom you hold clasped
in your arms in that adorable illusion that is so like reality！
〃All this I felt with unforgettable violence。 This woman was mine； so
much mine that the pleasant warmth of her skin remained in my fingers；
the odor of her skin； in my brain； the taste of her kisses； on my lips；
the sound of her voice lingered in my ears； the touch of her clasp still
clung to me； and the burning charm of her tenderness still gratified my
senses long after the delight but disillusion of my awakening。
〃And three times that night I had the same dream。
〃When the day dawned she haunted me； possessed me； filled my senses to
such an extent that I was not one second without thinking of her。
〃At last； not knowing what to do； I dressed myself and went to call on
her。 As I went upstairs to her apartment； I was so overcome by emotion
that I trembled； and my heart beat rapidly。
〃I entered the apartment。 She rose the moment she heard my name
mentioned； and suddenly our eyes met in a peculiar fixed gaze。
〃I sat down。 I stammered out some commonplaces which she seemed not to
hear。 I did not know what to say or do。 Then； abruptly； clasping my
a