| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: "Monsieur George!"
That of course was not my name. It served me then as it will serve
for this story. In all sorts of strange places I was alluded to as
"that young gentleman they call Monsieur George." Orders came from
"Monsieur George" to men who nodded knowingly. Events pivoted
about "Monsieur George." I haven't the slightest doubt that in the
dark and tortuous streets of the old Town there were fingers
pointed at my back: there goes "Monsieur George." I had been
introduced discreetly to several considerable persons as "Monsieur
George." I had learned to answer to the name quite naturally; and
to simplify matters I was also "Monsieur George" in the street of
 The Arrow of Gold |
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 Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: paint him to the life for a stranger's benefit.'
" 'Speak out, sir. Your frankness cannot injure Gobseck or yourself. I
do not expect to find an angel in a pawnbroker.'
" 'Daddy Gobseck,' I began, 'is intimately convinced of the truth of
the principle which he takes for a rule of life. In his opinion, money
is a commodity which you may sell cheap or dear, according to
circumstances, with a clear conscience. A capitalist, by charging a
high rate of interest, becomes in his eyes a secured partner by
anticipation. Apart from the peculiar philosophical views of human
nature and financial principles, which enable him to behave like a
usurer, I am fully persuaded that, out of his business, he is the most
 Gobseck |