The philosopher Descartes had a dog, which he treated as a friend and which became his inseparable companion. The name he gave the dog was "Monsieur Grat." The salutation in the name not only humanizes the animal, but also recalls the dog of the Cornelius Agrippa, who was at the time considered the most notorious practitioner of the black arts.  The dog of Agrippa was simply called "Monsieur," and it accompanied Agrippa everywhere, sharing even his meals and his bed. At the death of Agrippa in Grenoble in about 1535, Monsieur allegedly had jumped into the Rhone river and disappeared completely.

 

Since Monsieur Grat shared the solitude of Descartes, I am wondering if the dog might in some way have...