ic purposes a
few fruits, tempting by their colour and aroma; or transplant a pretty
little tree or so into our poetic garden. I was delighted when
Cyprian's story interrupted our wearisome discussion on this subject,
and now we seem to be in danger of getting deeper into it than ever.
Let us turn to something else. But wait a moment. First, I should like
to give you a little '_pezzo_' of our friend's mystical experiments,
which I am sure you will enjoy. It is briefly this:--A considerable
time ago I was invited to a little evening gathering, where our friend
was, along with some others. I was detained by business, and did not
arrive till very late. All the more surprised was I not to hear the
very slightest sound as I came up to the door of the room. Could it be
that nobody had been able to go? Thus cogitating, I gently opened the
door. There sat Vincent, over against me, with the others, round a
little table; and they were all staring, stiff and motionless like so
many statues, in the profoundest silence, up at the ceiling. The lights
were on a table at some distance, and nobody took any notice of me, I
went nearer, full of amazement, and saw a glittering gold ring swinging
backwards and forwards in the air, and presently beginning to move in
circles. One and another then said, 'Wonderful!' 'Very wonderful!'
'Most inexplicable!' 'Curious thing!' etc. I could no longer contain
myself, and cried out, 'For Heaven's sake, tell me what you are about?'

"At this they all jumped up. But Vincent cried, in that shrill voice of
his:

"'Recreant! obscure Nicodemus, coming slinking in like a sleep-walker,
interrupting the most important and interesting experiments. Let me
tell you that a phenomenon which the incredulous have, without a
moment's hesitation, classed in the category of the fabulous has just
been verified by the present company. We wished to try whether the
pendulum-oscillations of a suspended ring could be controlled by the
concentrated human will. I undertook to fix my will upon it; and
thought steadfastly of circular-shaped oscillations. The ring--fixed to
the ceiling by a silk thread--remained motionless for a very long time.
But at last it began to swing, in an acute angle with reference to my
position, and it was just beginning to swing in circles when you came
in and interrupted us.'"

"'But what if it were not your will,' I said, so 'much as the draught
of air when I opened the door, which set the contumac