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that I ought to rejoice。 I read until one o'clock in the morning！
Herestauss； Doctor of Philosophy and Theogony； wrote the history
and the manifestation of all those invisible beings which hover
around man； or of whom he dreams。 He describes their origin；
their domains； their power； but none of them resembles the one
which haunts me。 One might say that man； ever since he has
thought； has had a foreboding and a fear of a new being； stronger
than himself； his successor in this world； and that； feeling him
near； and not being able to foretell the nature of the unseen
one； he has； in his terror； created the whole race of hidden
beings； vague phantoms born of fear。
Having； therefore； read until one o'clock in the morning； I went
and sat down at the open window； in order to cool my forehead and
my thoughts in the calm night air。 It was very pleasant and warm！
How I should have enjoyed such a night formerly！
There was no moon； but the stars darted out their rays in the
dark heavens。 Who inhabits those worlds？ What forms； what living
beings； what animals are there yonder？ Do those who are thinkers
in those distant worlds know more than we do？ What can they do
more than we？ What do they see which we do not？ Will not one of
them； some day or other； traversing space； appear on our earth to
conquer it； just as formerly the Norsemen crossed the sea in
order to subjugate nations feebler than themselves？
We are so weak； so powerless； so ignorant； so smallwe who live
on this particle of mud which revolves in liquid air。
I fell asleep； dreaming thus in the cool night air； and then；
having slept for about three quarters of an hour； I opened my
eyes without moving； awakened by an indescribably confused and
strange sensation。 At first I saw nothing； and then suddenly it
appeared to me as if a page of the book； which had remained open
on my table； turned over of its own accord。 Not a breath of air
had come in at my window； and I was surprised and waited。 In
about four minutes； I saw； I sawyes I saw with my own
eyesanother page lift itself up and fall down on the others； as
if a finger had turned it over。 My armchair was empty； appeared
empty； but I knew that He was there； He； and sitting in my place；
and that He was reading。 With a furious bound； the bound of an
enraged wild beast that wishes to disembowel its tamer； I crossed
my room to seize him； to strangle him； to kill him！ But before I
could reach it； my chair fell over as if somebody had run away
from me。 My table rocked； my lamp fell and went out； and my
window closed as if some thief had been surprised and had fled
out into the night； shutting it behind him。
So He had run away； He had been afraid； He； afraid of me！
So to…morrow； or latersome day or other； I should be able to
hold him in my clutches and crush him against the ground！ Do not
dogs occasionally bite and strangle their masters？
August 18。 I have been thinking the whole day long。 Oh！ yes； I
will obey Him； follow His impulses； fulfill all His wishes； show
myself humble； submissive； a coward。 He is the stronger； but an
hour will come。
August 19。 I know； I know； I know all！ I have just read the
following in the 〃Revue du Monde Scientifique〃： 〃A curious piece
of news comes to us from Rio de Janeiro。 Madness； an epidemic of
madness； which may be compared to that contagious madness which
attacked the people of Europe in the Middle Ages； is at this
moment raging in the Province of San…Paulo。 The frightened
inhabitants are leaving their houses； deserting their villages；
abandoning their land； saying that they are pursued； possessed；
governed like human cattle by invisible； though tangible beings；
by a species of vampire； which feeds on their life while they are
asleep； and which； besides； drinks water and milk without
appearing to touch any other nourishment。
〃Professor Don Pedro Henriques； accompanied by several medical
savants； has gone to the Province of San…Paulo； in order to study
the origin and the manifestations of this surprising madness on
the spot； and to propose such measures to the Emperor as may
appear to him to be most fitted to restore the mad population to
reason。〃
Ah！ Ah！ I remember now that fine Brazilian three…master which
passed in front of my windows as it was going up the Seine； on
the eighth of last May！ I thought it looked so pretty； so white
and bright！ That Being was on board of her； coming from there；
where its race sprang from。 And it saw me！ It saw my house； which
was also white； and He sprang from the ship on to the land。 Oh！
Good heavens！
Now I know； I can divine。 The reign of man is over； and he has
come。 He whom disquieted priests exorcised； whom sorcerers evoked
on dark nights； without seeing him appear； He to whom the
imaginations of the transient masters of the world lent all the
monstrous or graceful forms of gnomes； spirits； genii； fairies；
and familiar spirits。 After the coarse conceptions of primitive
fear； men more enlightened gave him a truer form。 Mesmer divined
him； and ten years ago physicians accurately discovered the
nature of his power； even before He exercised it himself。 They
played with that weapon of their new Lord； the sway of a
mysterious will over the human soul； which had become enslaved。
They called it mesmerism； hypnotism； suggestion； I know not what？
I have seen them diverting themselves like rash children with
this horrible power！ Woe to us！ Woe to man！ He has come；
thethewhat does He call himselftheI fancy that he is
shouting out his name to me and I do not hear himtheyesHe
is shouting it outI am listeningI
cannotrepeatitHorlaI have heardthe Horlait is Hethe
HorlaHe has come！
Ah！ the vulture has eaten the pigeon； the wolf has eaten the
lamb； the lion has devoured the sharp…horned buffalo； man has
killed the lion with an arrow； with a spear； with gunpowder； but
the Horla will make of man what man has made of the horse and of
the ox： his chattel； his slave； and his food； by the mere power
of his will。 Woe to us！
But； nevertheless； sometimes the animal rebels and kills the man
who has subjugated it。 I should also likeI shall be able
tobut I must know Him； touch Him； see Him！ Learned men say that
eyes of animals； as they differ from ours； do not distinguish as
ours do。 And my eye cannot distinguish this newcomer who is
oppressing me。
Why？ Oh！ Now I remember the words of the monk at Mont
Saint…Michel： 〃Can we see the hundred…thousandth part of what
exists？ Listen； there is the wind which is the strongest force in
nature； it knocks men down； blows down buildings； uproots trees；
raises the sea into mountains of water； destroys cliffs； and
casts great ships on to the breakers； it kills； it whistles； it
sighs； it roars；have you ever seen it； and can you see it？ It
exists for all that； however！〃
And I went on thinking： my eyes are so weak； so imperfect； that
they do not even distinguish hard bodies； if they are as
transparent as glass！ If a glass without quicksilver behind it
were to bar my way； I should run into it； just like a bird which
has flown into a room breaks its head against the windowpanes。 A
thousand things； moreover； deceive a man