| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: "My boy, do you see that dull-brained fellow?" said Etienne, lowering
his voice, and glancing at Finot. "He has neither genius nor
cleverness, but he is covetous; he means to make a fortune at all
costs, and he is a keen man of business. Didn't you see how he made
forty per cent out of me at Dauriat's, and talked as if he were doing
me a favor?--Well, he gets letters from not a few unknown men of
genius who go down on their knees to him for a hundred francs."
The words recalled the pen-and-ink sketch that lay on the table in the
editor's office and the words, "Finot, my hundred francs!" Lucien's
inmost soul shrank from the man in disgust.
"I would sooner die," he said.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: strikes the first blow, they are sure to come to fisticuffs from
mere dirty fear of each other."
Amyas spoke truth; for almost every atrocity against savages which
had been committed by the Spaniards, and which was in later and
worse times committed by the English, was wont to be excused in
that same base fear of treachery. Amyas's plan, like that of
Drake, and Cook, and all great English voyagers, had been all along
to inspire at once awe and confidence, by a frank and fearless
carriage; and he was not disappointed here. He bade the men step
boldly into their canoes, and follow the old Indian whither he
would. The simple children of the forest bowed themselves
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Vendetta by Honore de Balzac: Saint-Jean."
The baron rose, cast a sidelong glance at Luigi, and said, in a
sardonic tone:--
"Monsieur is not decorated."
"I no longer wear the Legion of honor," replied Luigi, timidly, still
standing.
Ginevra, mortified by her father's incivility, dragged forward a
chair. The officer's answer seemed to satisfy the old servant of
Napoleon. Madame Piombo, observing that her husband's eyebrows were
resuming their natural position, said, by way of conversation:
"Monsieur's resemblance to a person we knew in Corsica, Nina Porta, is
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