| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: "Well, we'll see about it," said Cerizet; "I'll arrange all that. Who
is the tenant on your first floor?"
"Monsieur du Portail. He has lodged here these thirty years. He is a
man with a good income, monsieur; highly respectable, and elderly. You
know people who invest in the Funds live on their incomes. He used to
be in business. But it is more than eleven years now since he has been
trying to restore the reason of a daughter of one of his friends,
Mademoiselle Lydie de la Peyrade. She has the best advice, I can tell
you; the very first doctors in Paris; only this morning they had a
consultation. But so far nothing has cured her; and they have to watch
her pretty close; for sometimes she gets up and walks at night--"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Prince of Bohemia by Honore de Balzac: reign. Cherin composed his coat-of-arms for him, so the Count's
coronet looks not amiss above a scutcheon innocent of Imperial
absurdities. In this way, in the short space of three years, Claudine
had carried out the programme laid down for her by the charming,
light-hearted La Palferine.
"One day, just above a month ago, she climbed the miserable staircase
to her lover's lodging; climbed in her glory, dressed like a real
countess of the Faubourg Saint-Germain, to our friend's garret. La
Palferine, seeing her, said, 'You have made a peeress of yourself I
know. But it is too late, Claudine; every one is talking just now
about the Southern Cross, I should like it see it!'
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