The Enigma of Kaspar Hauser Page #4

I were to ask you whether...

...you came from the liars' village?

By means of a double negative

the liar is forced to tell the truth.

This construction forces him

to reveal his identity, you see.

That's what I call logic

via argument to the truth!

Well, I know another question.

You do?

There is no other question,

by the laws of logic.

There isn't?

But I do know another question.

Let us hear it, then!

I should ask the man

whether he was a tree-frog.

The man from the

truth village would say:

No, I'm not a tree-frog,

because he tells the truth.

The man from the

liars' village would say:

Yes, I'm a tree-frog,

because he would tell a lie.

So I know where he comes from.

No, that's not a proper question.

That won't do,

I can't accept it as a question.

That's no logic;

logic is deduction, not description.

What you've done is describe

something, not deduce it.

But I understood his question.

Understanding is secondary;

the reasoning is the thing.

In Logic and Mathematics

we do not understand things...

...we reason and deduce:

I cannot accept that question.

Died June 30th - Karl Friedrich Wolf...

...apprentice bookbinder and

orphaned son of Johannes Wolf...

...haberdasher and tradesman.

Age - 18 years, 9 months,

and 27 days.

Cause of death - consumption.

Died July 6th -

Josef Christian Friedrich Holzlein.

Age - 22 days.

Cause of death - gout.

With gratitude we record the

Guardianship Council's petition...

...to all men of generous heart...

...to ease the lot of the

poor and destitute among us.

Flowers will also be accepted.

No, Katy dear, my eyes

aren't what they used to be.

Would you be so kind as

to call on the tailor today?

Kaspar will be needing

his new coat tomorrow.

How far along are you

with your new biography, Kaspar?

The word is out that

you are working on it, and...

...everybody I know

is dying to read it.

No, I don't want to

let go of any of it yet.

There are so many

words I don't know...

...and so many things

I don't understand yet.

Sorry to disturb you,

but I just wanted to tell you...

...that an English nobleman, Count

Stanhope, has come to town.

He has taken great interest

in your situation, and said...

...that he would like to adopt you

if you made a good impression.

It would be a wonderful

new start for you, Kaspar.

I am overwhelmed.

Welcome!

Thank you.

I should like to introduce

my young protege...

Kaspar, this is our

charming hostess.

Don't be afraid,

give the lady your hand.

And this is our gracious host...

...who will open the

doors of society to you.

Allow me to introduce

my young protege to you.

Isn't he droll!

Quite the noble savage!

I should like you to

meet the mayor and his wife.

Hello, Kaspar.

I'm so happy to meet you, Kaspar.

Tell me, what was it like

in that dark cellar of yours.

Better than outside!

But we all like you

so much, Kaspar.

Were you about to say something?

You just tell us whatever comes

into your natural young head.

Your Grace, nothing

lives in me except my life!

Oh no, there's much

more alive inside of you.

You've been making such

fine progress with your music...

...something that educates

and ennobles our feelings!

Your Grace, I would like

to play a piece on the piano.

I shall play Mozart's

waltz in F major.

I'm not feeling well,

may I be excused?

A little fresh air will help.

I'll open the window a bit.

Are you feeling better, Kaspar?

I think it's better we

left him alone for a moment.

There's no cause for concern.

Kaspar is feeling a bit faint.

Perhaps in the meantime I

can tell you of my visit to Greece.

Not many days ago the sun

of Hellas shone down on me.

I loitered, Pindar in hand,

neath the columns of Corinth.

The sunrises were indescribable...

...the crystal clarity of the

Greek light unforgettable.

A balm to the soul,

that unsullied atmosphere!

I continued onto Crete,

where I rode the little donkeys...

The backs of these animals

are often quite hard, you know...

...and I was forced

to wear peasants' trousers!

Then the festivals of the simple

peasants of the countryside...

...the charming dances...

Excuse me please, my protege.

What's the meaning of this, Kaspar?

I'm sure I don't understand...

And what manner

of silly business is this?

Apparently I've been

guilty of a misjudgment.

There hasn't been enough time...

...for me to get a true

picture of the circumstances.

Why did you leave the church?

The singing of the congregation...

...sounds to me like awful howling.

And then the singing stops,

the pastor starts to howl.

Kaspar, we have to go back in.

Poor young fellow!

He must have taken too much of

that laxative the doctor gave him!

- Katy!

- Yes.

Come here a moment.

It looks like a bloody handprint.

Mercy me!

I saw him go in here this morning...

...and the door wasn't off its

hinges. Look - it's blood!

There are bloodstains

on the cellar door.

He can't have broken in by himself...

He's drunk it dry!

Now he's bitten a piece out of the bowl!

Ah, here's our patient.

Hello, thank you.

Did you apply the bandage?

There wasn't time to do it better.

Were there any other

injuries beside the head wound?

No, only his head.

I have a few important

questions to ask the victim.

Please - not now.

Well, we won't be getting

anything out of him today!

But at least he's not talking

the kind of rot he did last week.

All the same,

with respect to the crime...

...and Hauser's origins, we can't

expect much from him today.

Then I shall ask you to

take your leave, gentlemen.

There was one thing...

...I wanted to mention.

But it has nothing

to do with the attack on me.

It is all so clear before my eyes.

Tell us, Kaspar.

I saw the ocean,

and I saw a mountain...

...and there were many people

climbing up the mountain.

It was like a procession.

There was a lot of fog.

I couldn't see it very clearly, but...

...at the very top was Death.

What's happened?

He's been stabbed!

What happened? And where?

The man told me

to watch the gardener...

...then he gave me this

pouch and stabbed me.

I'll take you home, we'll carry you.

Let me see what's in the pouch.

A note!

"Hauser can tell you

exactly what I look like...

...and where I come from.

To save him the trouble...

...I'll tell you myself

where I come from...

...and even what my name is.

...M. L.O."

The Lord have mercy

on me for I am weak.

Heal me Lord,

for my limbs are stricken.

Lord, why do you hide

from me in my hour of need?

Do not go far from me,

for fear is near.

I am weary of sighing.

I lie in the sweat of my body...

...and my tears moisten my bed.

My body, weakened

by mourning, has grown old...

...and I am tormented

from every side.

Away from me, evil-doers,

for the Lord hears my call.

Kaspar, my son...

...if anything is burdening you,

please tell us now.

Yes...

There is something, a story...

It's about a caravan...

...and the desert.

But I know only the beginning.

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