t, could easily conceal herself, for it is not easy to find a
cat who has motives for not being found. S. again hunted for the
animal, but only heard a great rap on the wall. No sooner had S.
gone back to bed, than the bed gave a violent leap, and dashed
itself against the wall: the jump covered four feet. He called his
servants, who replaced the bed, but the curtains, in their sight,
were drawn, and the bed made a wild rush at the fireplace. This
happened again twice, though the servants held on gallantly to the
bed. Monsieur S. had no sleep, his bed continued to bound and run,
and he sent on the following day, for a friend. In that gentleman's
presence the leaps made by the bed ended in its breaking its left
foot, on which the visitor observed that he had seen quite enough.
He is said, later, to have expressed sorrow that he spoke, but he
may have had various motives for this repentance.

On the following night, S. slept well, and if his bed did rise and
fall gently, the movement rather cradled him to repose. In the
afternoon, the bolts of his parlour door closed of their own accord,
and the door of a large armoire opened. A voice then bade S. do
certain things, which he was to keep secret, go to a certain place,
and find people who would give him further orders. S. then fainted,
hurt himself, and with difficulty unbolted his door. A fortnight
later, S., his mother, and a friend heard more rapping, and a heavy
knock on the windows.

M. Poupart now gives the explanations of common-sense. The early
noises might have had physical causes: master, servants, and
neighbours all heard them, but that proves nothing. As to the
papers, a wind, or a mouse may have interfered with _them_. The
movements of the bed are more serious, as there are several
witnesses. But 'suppose the bed was on castors'. The inquirer does
not ask whether it really was on castors, or not, he supposes the
case. Then suppose S., that melancholy man, wants a lark (a envie
de se rejouir), he therefore tosses about in bed, and the bed
rushes, consequently, round the room. This experiment may be
attempted by any philosopher. Let him lie in a bed with castors,
and try how far he can make it run, while he kicks about in it.
This explanation, dear to common-sense, is based on a physical
impossibility, as any one may ascertain for himself. Then the
servants tried in vain to hold back the excited couch, well, these
servants may have lied, a