| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: him."
"Oh, monsieur, I can't be mistaken! There is something seriously the
matter with him; and if you would kindly do me a service--"
"Madame, I am always at your orders."
"When Monsieur de l'Estorade returns, speak of the injury to Rene's
finger, and tell me that little wounds like that sometimes have
serious consequences if not attended to at once, and that will give me
an excuse to send for Doctor Bianchon."
"Certainly," replied Monsieur de Camps; "but I really don't think a
physician is necessary. Still, if it reassures you--"
At this moment Monsieur de l'Estorade reappeared. He had almost
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: looked before. Of course it was empty; and, anyway, Rita could not
possibly have known of its existence. I got back to bed shivering
violently, though the night was warm, and with a distinct
impression that this thing would end by making me mad. It was no
longer a question of "this sort of thing" killing me. The moral
atmosphere of this torture was different. It would make me mad.
And at that thought great shudders ran down my prone body, because,
once, I had visited a famous lunatic asylum where they had shown me
a poor wretch who was mad, apparently, because he thought he had
been abominably fooled by a woman. They told me that his grievance
was quite imaginary. He was a young man with a thin fair beard,
The Arrow of Gold |
