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ce of the future； we are really only wrangling over words： in the one case； we give the name of 〃present；〃 from the point of view of a perfect intelligence； to that which to us is the future； in the other； we give the name of 〃future〃 to that which； from the point of view of a perfect intelligence； is the present。 But； after all； it is incontestable in both cases that； at least from our point of view； the future preexists； since preexistence is the only name by which we can describe and the only form under which we can conceive that which we do not yet see in the present。
28
Attempts have been made to shed light on the riddle by transferring it to space。 It is true that it there loses the greater part of its obscurity； but this apparently is because； in changing its environment； it has completely changed its nature and no longer bears any relation to what it was when it was placed in time。 We are told； for instance； that innumerable cities distributed over the surface of the earth are to us as if they were not； so long as we have not seen them； and only begin to exist on the day when we visit them。 That is true； but space； outside all metaphysical speculations； has realities for us which time does not possess。 Space； although very mysterious and incomprehensible once we pass certain limits； is nevertheless not； like time； incomprehensible and illusory in all its parts。 We are certainly quite able to conceive that those towns which we have never seen and doubtless never will see indubitably exist； whereas we find it much more difficult to imagine that the catastrophe which； fifty years hence； will annihilate one of them already exists as really as the town itself。 We are capable of picturing a spot whence； with keener eyes than these which we boast to…day； we should see in one glance all the cities of the earth and even those of other worlds； but it is much less easy for us to imagine a point in the ages whence we should simultaneously discover the past； the present and the future because the past； the present and the future are three orders of duration which cannot find room at the same time in our intelligence and which inevitably devour one other。 How can we picture to ourselves； for instance； a point in eternity at which our little procession already exists； while it is not yet and although it is no more？ Add to this the thought that it is necessary and inevitable； from the millenaries which had no beginning； that； at a given moment； at a given place； the little procession should leave the little church in a given manner and that no known or imaginable will can change anything in it； in the future any more than in the past； and we begin to understand that there is no hope of understanding。
29
We find among the cases collected by M。 Bozzano a singular premonition wherein the unknown factors of space and time are continued in a very curious fashion。 In August； 1910； Cavalliere Giovanni de Figueroa； one of the most famous fencing masters at Palermo； dreamt that he was in the country； going along a road white with dust； which brought him to a broad ploughed field。 In the middle of the field stood a rustic building； with a ground…floor used for store…rooms and cow…sheds and on the right a rough hut made of branches and a cart with some harness lying in it。
A peasant wearing dark trousers； with a black felt hat on his head； came forward to meet him； asked him to follow him and took him round behind the house。 Through a low； narrow door they entered a little stable with a short； winding stone staircase leading to a loft over the entrance to the house。 A mule fastened to a swinging manger was blocking the bottom step； and the chevalier had to push it aside before climbing the staircase。 On reaching the loft； he noticed that from the ceiling were suspended strings of melons； tomatoes； onions and Indian corn。 In this room were two women and a little girl； and through a door leading to another room he caught sight of an extremely high bed； unlike any that he had ever seen before。 Here the dream broke off。 It seemed to him so strange that he spoke of it to several of his friends； whom he mentions by name and who are ready to confirm his statements。
On the 12th of October in the same year； in order to support a fellow…townsman in a duel； he accompanied the seconds； by motorcar； from Naples to Marano； a place which he had never visited nor even heard of。 As soon as they were some way in the country； he was curiously impressed by the white and dusty road。 The car pulled up at the side of a field which he at once recognized。 They lighted； and he remarked to one of the seconds： 〃This is not the first time that I have been here。 There should be a house at the end of this path and on the right a hut and a cart with some harness in it。〃
As a matter of fact； everything was as he described it。 An instant later； at the exact moment foreseen by the dream； the peasant in the dark trousers and the black felt hat came up and asked him to follow him。 But； instead of walking behind him； the chevalier went in front； for he already knew the way。 He found the stable and； exactly at the place which it occupied two months before； near its swinging manger； the mule blocking the way to the staircase。 The fencing master went up the steps and once more saw the loft； with the ceiling hung with melons； onions and tomatoes； and； in a corner on the right； the two silent women and the child； identical with the figures in his dream； while in the next room he recognized the bed whose extraordinary height had so much impressed him。
It really looks as if the facts themselves； the extramundane realities； the eternal verities； or whatever we may be pleased to call them； have tried to show us here that time and space are one and the same illusion； one and the same convention and have no existence outside our little day…spanned understanding； that 〃everywhere〃 and 〃always〃 are exactly synonymous terms and reign alone as soon as we cross the narrow boundaries of the obscure consciousness in which we live。 We are quite ready to admit that Cavaliere de Figueroa may have had by clairvoyance an exact and detailed vision of places which he was not to visit until later： this is a pretty frequent and almost classical phenomenon； which； as it affects the realities of space； does not astonish us beyond measure and； in any case； does not take us out of the world which our senses perceive。 The field； the house； the hut； the loft do not move； and it is no miracle that they should be found in the same place。 But； suddenly； quitting this domain where all is stationary； the phenomenon is transferred to time and； in those unknown places； at the foretold second； brings together all the moving actors of that little drama in two acts； of which the first was performed some two and a half months before； in the depths of some mysterious other life where it seemed to be motionlessly and irrevocably awaiting its terrestrial realization。 Any explanation would but condense this vapour of petty mysteries into a few drops in the ocean of mysteries。 Let us note here again； in passing； the strange freakishness of the premonitions。 They accumulate the most precise and circumstantial details as long as the scene remains insignificant； but come to a sudden stop before the one tragic and interesting scene of the drama： the duel and its issue。 Here again we recognize the inconsistent； impotent； ironical or humorous habits of our unknown guest。
30
But we will not prolong these somewhat vain speculations concerning space and time。 We are merely playing with words that represent very badly ideas which we do not put into form at all。 To sum up； if it is difficult for us to conceive that the future preexists； perhaps it is even more difficult for us to understand that it does not exist； moreover； a certain number of facts tend to prove that it is as real and definite and has； both in time and in eternity； the same permanence and the same vividness as the past。 Now； from the moment that it preexists； it is not surprising that we should be able to know it； it is even astonishing； granted that it overhangs us on every side； that we should not discover it oftener and more easily。 It remains to be learnt what would become of our life if everything were foreseen in it； if we saw it unfolding beforehand； in its entirety； with its events which would have to be inevitable； because； if it were possible for us to avoid them； they would not exist and we could not perceive them。 Suppose that； instead of being abnormal； uncertain； obscure； debatable and very unusual； prediction became； so to speak； scientific； habitual； clear and infallible： in a short time； having nothing more to foretell； it would die of inanition。 If； for instance； it was prophesied to me that I must die in the course of a journey in Italy； I should naturally abandon the journey； therefore it could not have been predicted to me； and thus all life would soon be nothing but inaction； pause and abstention； a soft of vast desert where the embryos of still…born events would be gathered in heaps and where nothing would grow save perhaps one or two more or less fortunate enterprises and the little insignificant incidents which no one would trouble