| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: "And I daresay," said Lord Menteith, aside to Anderson, "the
weight of the halberd of the sergeant of the rounds often made
him open them."
Being apparently, however, in the humour of story-telling, the
young nobleman went on, addressing himself chiefly to his
servants, without minding the slumbering veteran.
"Every baron in the country," said he, "now swore revenge for
this dreadful crime. They took arms with the relations and
brother-in-law of the murdered person, and the Children of the
Mist were hunted down, I believe, with as little mercy as they
had themselves manifested. Seventeen heads, the bloody trophies
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Muse of the Department by Honore de Balzac: "from MONSIEUR."
"So you have come to buy up the bills?" said La Baudraye, thinking
himself very clever.
"Buy them!" said his visitor. "Why, what do you take me for? I am
Monsieur des Lupeaulx, Master of Appeals, Secretary-General to the
Ministry, and I have come to propose an arrangement."
"What is that?"
"Of course, monsieur, you know the position of your debtor--"
"Of my debtors--"
"Well, monsieur, you understand the position of your debtors; they
stand high in the King's good graces, but they have no money, and are
The Muse of the Department |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Secrets of the Princesse de Cadignan by Honore de Balzac: The Government Clerks
Pierrette
A Study of Woman
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Honorine
The Seamy Side of History
The Magic Skin
A Second Home
A Prince of Bohemia
Letters of Two Brides
The Muse of the Department
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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 Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: two cars which composed it. The coach next the engine was
occupied by a dozen trusted soldiers, who had formerly belonged
to the bodyguard of Megales. The last car was a private one, and
in it the three found Henderson, Bucky O'Connor, and his little
friend, the latter still garbed as a boy.
Frances was exceedingly eager to don again the clothes proper to
her sex, and she had promised herself that, once habited as she
desired, nothing could induce her ever to masquerade again. Until
she met and fell in love with the ranger she had thought nothing
of it, since it had been merely a matter of professional business
to which she had been forced. Indeed, she had sometimes enjoyed
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