The Processionary: the Procession 



tion; and all follow mechanically, as faithful 

 to their circle as are the hands of a watch. 

 The headless file has no liberty left, no will; 

 it has become mere clock-work. And this 

 continues for hours and hours. My success 

 goes far beyond my wildest suspicions. I 

 stand amazed at it, or rather I am stupefied. 



Meanwhile, the multiplied circuits change 

 the original rail into a superb ribbon a twelfth 

 of an inch broad. I can easily see it glittering 

 on the red ground of the pot. The day is 

 drawing to a close and no alteration has yet 

 taken place in the position of the trail. A 

 striking proof confirms this. 



The trajectory is not a plane curve, but one 

 which, at a certain point, deviates and goes 

 down a little way to the lower surface of the 

 cornice, returning to the top some eight inches 

 farther. I marked these two points of devia- 

 tion in pencil on the vase at the outset. Well, 

 all that afternoon and, more conclusive still, 

 on the following days, right to the end of this 

 mad dance, I see the string of caterpillars dip 

 under the ledge at the first point and come 

 to the top again at the second. Once the first 

 thread is laid, the road to be pursued is perma- 

 nently established. 



75 



