"Let us imagine a strange space based on Archimedean principles" "The extension of the arm permits you to occupy the totality of this space" "What happens then in other galaxies?" "How is our extensible arm represented there?" "At each instant the persistence of space balances their respective equilibria without us ever being able to wake them or dominate them" "As for this world that we are passing, the objects in the other galaxy will grow larger approaching the limits of our world, and will thereafter disappear" "All the totalities are incomplete ...because they provoke other totalities" "The Universe is always being reduced, and always being extended" "(What's happening?" ")" "(What's happening?" ")" "Duration can act as a mirror" "Space can appear as timelike, time can appear spacelike" "Accepting the hypothesis of the extensibility of consciousness doesn't it follow that we are growing physically?" "We can direct our consciousness towards very different objects in addition to that extraordinary extension" "All things, and our own body. remain inscribed within in a space which is conformable to itself" "In brief, at every instant at every instant, the hard questions continue" "Monsieur Taranne?" "Monsieur Taranne?" "What's the matter with him?" "What's happened to him?" "Monsieur Taranne?" "But of course, you know my name" "I'm famous, I enjoy public esteem" "You know that as well as the others" "In fact, I might say, given your profession better than the others" "You realize that this accusation is quite absurd?" "Why would I do that?" "The manner in which I have always lived.... ...suffices to prove that I would never let myself perform such an action" "And then, sir I beg you, use your common sense" "What man would undress himself naked in this weather?" "I don't want to fall ill to lie up in bed for weeks, perhaps." "Like all great researchers, I'm jealous with my time." "I'm telling you this, if you don't already know." "Now, think carefully." "Can one rely on the evidence of children?" "They say anything that comes into their heads." "To make themselves interesting, so that people pay attention they will say anything at all." "One must understand children" "And I do understand them." "Not that my students are children..." "I'm a Professor at the Faculty." "And..." "I can say that I like children." "But to go from there to blindly believing what they say..." "I was walking quite tranquilly beside the lake and then suddenly I saw them." "And they were very close, they surrounded me." "They come from everywhere, more and more, and all at once." "They all came at me." "Then I began to run." "I don't know why I ran..." "Perhaps because I didn't expect to see them there." "Of course, I ran." "But that's all." "Look at me, gentlemen: am I the kind of man who gets dressed in a hurry?" "So when would I have had the time to get dressed...?" "I'm sorry." "But I have here in front of me a report which doesn't agree at all with your testimony." "They ran, they were all shouting (as if they had been given the word)" "(And what were they shouting?" ")" "("You will see!" "You will see!")" "But see what?" "I had done nothing wrong, and I can prove it." "We're waiting for you to do so." "I'm Professor Taranne, an eminent scholar." "I have attended many international conferences." "Just recently I was invited to Belgium and my lectures were regarded as an outstanding success." "All the young people rushed to attend my course." "They fought to possess a scrap of paper written by my hand" "I don't doubt your renown" "But for the moment, that's not the point at issue." "We need to clear up this affair so as to complete the report." "The report?" "What report?" "If you make a report you risk causing me a grievous injury and to compromise my career" "You're not the first to whom such things happen." "You'll get out of it with a fine, nothing more" "And if you can pay, this...incident will have, for you, absolutely no further consequence" "I can write you a cheque, that would be simplest" "Immediately, if you like." "No, not right now." "I will rather request you to sign a declaration in which you admit to having been surprised, naked, by the children at nightfall." "You could add that you didn't realize that you were being observed." "I knew very well that they'd seen me that they were staring at me that everyone had their eyes fixed on me." "Why are you staring at me like that?" "I don't stare at people" "Most often, I lower my gaze." "Sometimes I almost close my eyes." "I had my eyes half-closed when they all came." "I didn't count them, there wasn't time." "Why did you ask me all that?" "I told you how it is with me." "That should be enough." "I can hardly believe that you haven't heard about me." "I'm sorry." "Yes, it's most regrettable." "It's always better to know with whom one one has to deal." "How can you rely on children's tales?" "What proof do you have that the child who came here to tell you all that was really at the scene" "Other children could have told her their version of the incident and she could have changed it again, without realizing it perhaps." "Yes." "That's what must have happened." "Besides, it's very simple." "You only have to summon people who know me." "I can give you their names." "And their titles." "They will bear witness as to my moral probity." "(And my renown)" "Bring them all here." "All of them." "Bring anyone you like." "And you'll see." "Have you seen a tall gentleman, very well-built?" "He always holds his spectacles in his hand." "He gave me a rendez-vous here." "I think we have already met, Madame." "As I recall, you had recently finished your thesis a quite extraordinary piece of work" "You must be mistaken, I'm a journalist." "How hot it is in here." "Can't you open a window?" "Allow me to introduce myself..." "(Really, men lack imagination.)" "When they want to chat up a woman, they've always met her somewhere or other" "I already told you to beware of him." "How happy I am to meet you." "You will be able to render me a service." "I don't believe we are acquainted, sir" "How can that be?" "I have often seen you at my lectures." "We don't attend lectures." "We're no longer students." "I am Professor Taranne." "Taranne?" "Taranne?" "In any case, my collaboration is assured." "You can see very well that we are busy." "It's time to take steps." "It's incomprehensible." "Because, without even mentioning my honours...and my work.." "...I have a face that can't be forgotten once it has been seen." "" " Very true" "It's true that in the interim I spent a long time abroad" "I know." "A trip that you considered a great success" "Extraordinarily successful." "And I'll shortly go there again" "Abroad, they are much more serious about the problems which interest me" "They accord them an importance which they don't always have here" "I am..." "Professor Taranne." "I have often remarked..." "Do you think we should ask him?" "You know my work." "You surprise me greatly, Monsieur in as much as I know, and particularly esteem, Professor Menard and for his part, he has the greatest consideration for me." "Shall we go?" "We can't stay here forever, as if we were guilty" "Excuse me..." "I'd like to ask you if you have seen the Inspector, or one of his colleagues?" "It's very annoying." "I was meant to sign my declaration." "I haven't done so." "I don't understand" "Still nobody." "How tiresome it is!" "The Concierge has gone for a walk as usual." "Under these conditions she might just as well have gone on holiday it would be more honest." "All the same I'd like to know if I have any mail...." "Taranne!" "Who are you?" "And what do you want?" "There's no-one in the office." "" " We're looking for a certain Taranne" "You mean, Professor Taranne ...papers, the profession is left blank." "That's an unfortunate omission..." "Because how can you prove that it's me you're looking for?" "I am Professor Taranne" "I have a chair at the University" "What is it?" "I have injured no-one." "I am my own judge." "You have committed an offence...against our laws" "Explain yourself" "That's what we're trying to do, but you keep on interrupting." "The offense which you have committed is very minor" "It amounts to a misdemeanour." "Again I demand to know what I'm supposed to have done!" "Be calm!" "Who has never committed a misdemeanour?" "Ah, so that's it!" "You're not au courant." "I've just come from the police station." "I signed all the right papers." "The witnesses all guaranteed my moral probity." "So the matter was settled." "You can guess the rest, since here I am, in front of you, a free man, explaining...." "Your office is very badly organised, it must be said, but.... ...what I'm telling you you must already know" "You're mistaken." "We're not from the district office" "We've come to question you about another matter" "Another matter!" "Explain yourselves." "You're accused of having left rubbish..." "...in a bathing machine" "You're making a big mistake!" "Well, in fact I didn't take a cabin, neither yesterday, nor...the other day and those are the only times I've bathed during this season." "Definitely I'm in the habit of taking a cabin" "I detest disrobing on the beach where everybody can see me." "And all the precautions one must take .if one doesn't want to be the focus of bold stares all those precautions weary me and consume time which I would prefer to devote to other things." "More useful things" "There's the whole performance of dropping one's skirt, after first having tied one's blouse around the waist." "It can fall, you know, one must pay attention." "You'll tell me that one can always hide behind the bathing cabin" "But there the sand is never changed, and it's so filthy..." "One thinks twice about going there." "That's enough." "We're only asking you to make the following declaration:" ""I swear to not having occupied the bathing cabin from such-and-such a date"... and then add your signature" "It's not difficult" "You can, if correct, and if you so desire add, after "such-and-such a date" the words "because I didn't have the money"" "It's true, I didn't have the money...on me." "It can happen to anybody to forget one's money at home." "Certainly it can appear unusual for this to happen twice, at a few days' interval." "But if you think about it, that's a very superficial judgement" "Things always occur in a series." "That's strange...but the facts prove it" "Yes the last time I went to the beach I again forgot my money" "You'll say that I should have fetched it, retraced my steps." "But that, gentlemen, is something I can't do" "Have never been able to." "To follow a path, knowing that one will have to follow it yet again to see it again in all its detail I don't have the stamina for that" "And then, in a general sense, I don't like walking." "I can't work while walking" "Do you recognize this?" "But it's my notebook." "Where did you get it from?" "Answer me." "I demand that you reply." "I have it with me always, it never leaves me." "That's where I note down all the ideas which come to me during the day ideas which I subsequently develop." "No, you won't find there the complete text of one of my lectures" "The whole notebook would not suffice for that." "My lecture course is long." "Very long." "A friend once told me that no university course is as long as mine." "I needed many supplementary hours." "Sometimes I even continued till nightfall" "While I talked they lit the lamps and through the open doors there came a neverending stream of new listeners." "Naturally, I don't particularly like that because of the noise of the chairs when they are moved" "But many people have other occupations to which they must attend whether they like it or not." "One has to make allowances for that." "In any case..." "I didn't allow that to impact on my teaching" "My courses are sub-divided in such a way that one can follow each lecture without having attended the previous one." "That's not because I repeat myself, of course not." "At the beginning of each lecture I give a summary of what I said last time..." "And this summary, gentlemen, far from being useless clarifies from a new perspective the topic I have been discussing." "There are in your notebook several pages which are apparently not written in your hand." "Here, for example." "No, no, look, it's mine, it's mine!" "I can recognize my own hand-writing." "I write with a very... particular style" "Well then, would you read to us what you have written." ""I want...you...wines..."" "In fact, I do have a problem reading it, but that proves nothing" "When one writes quickly. while walking, for example, (and I often work while walking) it often happens that one can't decipher what was written" "The author of a text ought to be able to complete his thought if he has a problem reading his own text." "One might say that I wrote in another hand?" "But why would I do that?" "For what purpose?" "That I don't know." "For a change, perhaps." "If you please, give it to me!" "Have a little patience!" "One more question." "Why are only the first and last pages of the notebook filled out?" "The middle pages are..." "The middle pages?" "I wrote everywhere even in the margins." "You must have noticed" "Everything is covered by me" "By me, do you understand?" "You hadn't yet used those pages." "That's all." "Yes, that's so, there is a gap." "A gap right in the middle." "No, it's not possible." "I finished that notebook long ago." "It's a very old notebook that I took with me to re-read to look for some information which I needed." "I remember..." "That's what we told you!" "I'm going to explain." "It's very simple" "Sometimes I pick up my notebook, from one end and sometimes from the other" "You understand?" "Oh, I can see your objections." "You're going to say..." ""Well, why is it always written in the same direction?"" "If you begin from either end, one can't read it without retracing one's steps." "Of course, if I had paid attention..." "Obviously, I should have taken care not to jump over blank pages then this wouldn't have happened." "But I'm absent-minded, gentlemen" "So are many academics and research workers" "I would say, almost all of them are!" "There are lots of funny anecdotes on that topic." "Wait!" "Wait!" "I haven't signed my declaration" "You didn't give me a pen and I don't have one on me." "Oh, of course, I left it upstairs!" "But I can't go and look for it." "I don't know why, but my key isn't on the board, and the Concierge is still away" "Do you hear me, messieurs?" "I don't understand" "I don't understand why they rushed off like that without saying a word without shaking hands" "They go and they come" "They find it quite natural to disturb a working woman who needs a little peace to put some order into her work" "Is there any mail for me?" "Is there any mail for me?" "Is there any mail for me?" "No, Madame Professor...." "Only this which they asked to deliver without delay to Madame Professor." "I think there must be a mistake" "It's certainly not addressed to me" "However, Professor Taranne, that's me..." "Me?" "There's no doubt." "Madame!" "You called, Monsieur Professor?" "Who gave you this letter?" "I found it in the office when I returned." "There was a note attached which read:" ""To be delivered without delay to Professor Taranne"" "I know nothing more" "It's nice here" "Jeanne..." "Some extraordinary things have happened to me" "Extraordinary things?" "Are you sure?" "According to you, just about everything is extraordinary." "What a strange brother I have!" "Listen to me" "They've just brought me this document" "It's the seating plan of the dining-room on the boat on which I appear to have booked a passage." "Only.... ...you see, I haven't booked a passage on that boat" "To judge by this seating plan it's a very beautiful and big dining-room" "Yes it is big." "I've often admired in the agencies.... ...those photographs of the "President Welling"" "It's certainly the most rapid and well-appointed liner of all" "That's possible." "But the thing is, I didn't book a passage on that boat nor on any other" "And so, in consequence..." "What are you complaining about?" "They obviously hold you in high regard!" "See there, that cross?" "That's your place" "You're at the table of honor right in the middle." "But that doesn't explain why I would have booked a passage on this boat in the first place" "To go where?" "One doesn't travel to Belgium by sea, as far as I know" "To have placed you as they did.... ...they must have known who you are" "Of course..." "It's not by chance that they seated me at the table of honour, beside the most exalted guests" "But I hadn't intended to go so far" "I've got no reason to do so." "There's nothing to find nor to fear." "You must have bought your ticket on a day when you were tired out after too much hard work" "And then when you became less tired you forgot that you had bought it" "Perhaps..." "Yes." "Sometimes one does things and then forgets" "Often I look for my combs, and they're in my hair all along" "One's annoyed for a moment, and then one laughs" "I have a letter for you " " From Belgium?" "I don't know" "There's a statue on the stamp, and an inscription" "You have the letter?" "Below the statue is written:" ""Independent Territory"" "What did you say?" "There's never been such inscription on any stamp" "Give it to me!" "You see, beside it, there's another stamp with a lion." " Ah yes..." "The royal lion of Belgium" "I had to pay a surcharge, I had to empty my money-box" "It's what I was waiting for" "A letter from the Rector!" "Give it to me." "I'll read it to you" "Give it here" "As you like" "No." "No." "You read it." ""Monsieur..." ""You gave evidence in your last letter..." ""...of an impatience which, I admit frankly..." ""...surprised me" "I knew it." "I was clumsy, and that annoyed him" ""I think, however, if you stop to consider the current ill-health of my wife..." ""...that should give you sufficient explanation for my delay replying" "Obviously, I should have inquired about his wife's health" "But put yourself in my place." "I was discussing in my letter questions which were particularly important to me" "One doesn't pass so easily from one subject to another" "And yes, I had forgotten about his wife" ""Under these conditions it is, in any case..." ""...impossible to make the necessary arrangements..." ""...for your second visit to our institution" "He regards himself as irreplaceable." "To make these arrangements there are surely plenty of others who are suitably qualified" "The others would be very happy to do this service for me." "To make these arrangements for me" ""I must also tell you that on the occasion of your last visit..." ""..." "I learned with some surprise that you had neglected to inform the Direction..." ""...of the precise timetable for your course..." ""...thus causing considerable difficulties for your colleagues..." ""...who had to make last minute changes to their own timetables" "But... they insisted..." ""I was also informed that the duration of your tutorials exceeded the prescribed limits" "I couldn't do otherwise!" ""They also told me that the attention of your audience wandered..." ""...that some talked loudly among themselves..." ""...and that others left the auditorium before you had finished" "Who fed him these lies?" "And how could he be so credulous?" "It's quite absurd" "If the room emptied during my lecture..." "I would have noticed" "I would have stopped" "Or I wouldn't have stopped." "Just the opposite" "I would have talked in a loud voice without stopping" "It's true it has happened that some students left before the end that's certainly because they had to catch a train in order to go home" "They came from another city especially to hear me and that was the only train available to them" "One has nothing to reproach these students, nothing at all" "As for that whispering which on one occasion arose at the back of the room I know what provoqued that" "The students were trying to silence some other young people who were shouting" ""What clarity!"" ""What power of reasoning!"" "I don't blame them." "They were conscientiously taking their notes" "It's quite reasonable that they should ask for silence" ""All that is of little importance..." ""...provided the interest in your course was maintained..." ""...which was not the case" ""Your final lectures seemed to me to be quite unworthy" "Unworthy?" "Well, that's easy to say" "As if one can always hit the target" "As if there aren't always questions which one pursues more than others because these are the ones that concern you personally which touch your heart" ""Certain points interested me..." ""But I would have liked them to be developed with more precision..." ""...and, dare I say, with more honesty?" ""The ideas you expressed reminded me a little too much of those developed by Professor Menard" ""Not that I have the least objection to his ideas" ""They seem, on the contrary, to merit our closest attention" ""But, how could you have omitted his name from your list of references..." ""...and thereby effectively presented as your own ideas..." ""..." "Professor Menard's remarkable results which we all know and admire" "It's not true..." "It's not true..." "We had the same ideas at the same moment" "These things happen" ""I perhaps wouldn't have imparted these impressions to you..." ""...if I hadn't received from several quarters..." ""..." "letters which accuse you of what I must call..." ""...your moral indelicacy" "They wrote to him, all of them" "I knew they'd do it" "I watched them all closely" "While I was talking they were all whispering:" ""He has stolen Professor Menard's spectacles"" ""Pity he's of so much smaller stature"" "And I don't know what other spiteful witticisms" "If only they had had the courage to stand up and say to my face those cowardly things they were saying behind my back..." "Then I would have stood up" "Then I would have said:" ""Gentlemen..."" ""The outcome of all that is that I am unable to invite you to our next session" ""Believe me, dear sir, that I regret having to modify the high opinion I once had of you" ""...that I once had of you" "Why bother to tell me now after so many years?" "Why didn't he tell me sooner" "Why didn't they all tell me?" "Since it's so obvious." "Since it's such an obvious fact" "Monsieur Professor" "Monsieur Professor!" "Good morning, Professor." "It is 7 o'clock." "It's snowing" "Yes, it's snowing" "So, it's snowing..." "You're going to miss your train, Professor" "What does he want?" "I don't understand a thing he's saying" "What?" "No!" "Then nothing." "Nothing at all" "No, it's not true." "No, not me!" "Good, good, very good" "Oh, that's too easy" "I don't understand at all There's nothing to understand" "It means absolutely nothing" "And yet..." "I agree with you" "I agree" "I agree" "Monsieur Taranne" "Can a private language co-exist with a public one?" "And if yes what is the role of the principle of individuation?" "Yes, one can consider individuation to be language-forming." "Mr Taranne?" "I regret that you haven't yet talked about the connection... between the internal and the real worlds" "That's purely the play of the imagination" "Did Napoleon really exist?" "I don't know for sure." "I rely on what I read and what I'm taught." "And consequently, that funds our Institute" "Everything that is not known we can add to our shopping list" "Monsieur Taranne, can a...?" "Oh, perhaps" "Monsieur Taranne, do you believe in the existence of a private language?" "That question has already received a reply" "You're a wag, Monsieur Taranne" "Is the reply given when one questions it" "Is it already implicit in the question?" "How is it ever possible for these two languages to meet?" "Subs by wootle"