| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: machinations."
"I know that very well; I've made that affirmation scores of times
when I was working for the republican newspapers and--"
"When you were 'the courageous Cerizet,'" interrupted du Portail.
"Well, the present machination, here it is. The government was much
displeased at seeing Thuillier elected without its influence to the
Council-general of the Seine; it was angry with an independent and
patriotic citizen who showed by his candidacy that he could do without
it; and it learned, moreover, that this excellent citizen was
preparing a pamphlet on the subject, always a delicate one, of the
finances, as to which this dangerous adversary had great experience.
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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 Cruise of the Jasper B. by Don Marquis: too unexpected, and too quickly done, for a shot from Barnstable
or any of Cleggett's men.
Cleggett, with the blood streaming from his mouth, recovered
himself and leaped through the aperture in the deck. He landed
upon his feet with a jar, and, shortening his sword in his hand,
stared about him in the gloom.
He saw no one.
An instant later Wilton Barnstable and Cap'n Abernethy were
beside him.
"Gone!" said Cleggett simply.
Barnstable drew from his pocket a small electric lantern and
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