The ladies requested him to put a simple mathematical
question to the table, and complying with their request, he asked
for the cube root of 4. None of the ladies who sat about the table
knew the solution; the table unhesitatingly gave 6 raps. This answer
was refused as incorrect. The table was asked to try again, and
again it wrapped 6. For this it was bitterly reproached. Hereupon
the questioner, who during the whole time had remained in his place
at the other end of the room, came forward with the confession that
the table was innocent, that he had made a mistake. He had asked for
the cube root of 4, but had really meant to ask for the cube of that
number, viz., 64, and the table had as a matter of fact given the
first numeral of that number.

One is immediately struck by the analogy between this case and that
of Professor Schillings. In both cases those immediately concerned
(the women in the one, Mr. von Osten in the other) believe that a
wrong answer is being given repeatedly. The cause of the error lies
in a person who seemingly is not concerned with the response. (The
Frenchman asked the question, but did not sit at the table.
Professor Schillings sounded the notes, but it was Mr. von Osten who
got the horse to tap.) In both instances the questioner asks one
thing, but had something else in mind. (With the Frenchman it was a
slip of the tongue; Mr. Schillings did it purposely.) And finally,
in both cases the response corresponds not to the question that has
been asked, but to that which has been thought, so that, though
seemingly wrong, the responses of both table and horse were really
correct. By way of explanation, Noizet believes that he has a case
of true thought-transference or "telepathy" (page 108). The
questioner watched with utmost attentiveness the rapping of the
table, and the women in turn regarded the man. And thus, Noizet
believes, the man's thought was transferred to the minds of the
others without the mediation of eye or ear, etc., and hence
unvitiated by the words that had been spoken. I myself prefer
another explanation. At that moment in which the rapping arrived at
the expected number, the Frenchman executed a movement
characteristic of release of tension and to this the women of the
circle reacted. It was not necessary that they should be able to
ac