| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: Gabrielle Bompard must be very doubtful. No trustworthy instance
seems to be recorded in which a crime has been committed under,
or brought about by, hypnotic or post-hypnotic suggestion,
though, according to Moll, "the possibility of such a crime
cannot be unconditionally denied."
In sheer wickedness there seems little enough to choose between
Eyraud and Bompard. But, in asking a verdict without extenuating
circumstances against the woman, the Procureur-General was
by no means insistent. He could not, he said, ask for less, his
duty would not permit it: "But I am ready to confess that my
feelings as a man suffer by the duty imposed on me as a
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Juana by Honore de Balzac: curtains of her bed, and say to her adopted father and mother, in case
of detection: "I am the Marquise de Montefiore!"--was to an ignorant
and romantic young girl, who for three years past had dreamed of love
without dreaming of its dangers, delightful. The door closed on this
last evening upon her folly, her happiness, like a veil, which it is
useless here to raise.
It was nine o'clock; the merchant and his wife were reading their
evening prayers; suddenly the noise of a carriage drawn by several
horses resounded in the street; loud and hasty raps echoed from the
shop where the servant hurried to open the door, and into that
venerable salon rushed a woman, magnificently dressed in spite of the
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: pursued me in my flight.
THE SQUIRE OF DAMES (CONCLUDED)
WHAT with the lady's animated manner and dramatic conduct of
her voice, Challoner had thrilled to every incident with
genuine emotion. His fancy, which was not perhaps of a very
lively character, applauded both the matter and the style;
but the more judicial functions of his mind refused assent.
It was an excellent story; and it might be true, but he
believed it was not. Miss Fonblanque was a lady, and it was
doubtless possible for a lady to wander from the truth; but
how was a gentleman to tell her so? His spirits for some
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The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: "Then Werbrust understood. He squeezed du Tillet's hand with an
expression such as a woman's face wears when she is playing her
neighbor a trick.
"Martin Falleix came up.--'Well, have you heard the news?' he asked.
'Nucingen has stopped payment.'
" 'Pooh,' said Werbrust, 'pray don't noise it about; give those that
hold his paper a chance.'
" 'What is the cause of the smash; do you know?' put in Claparon.
" 'You know nothing about it,' said du Tillet. 'There isn't any smash.
Payment will be made in full. Nucingen will start again; I shall find
him all the money he wants. I know the causes of the suspension. He
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