| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: which would make him closely follow on Montigny, and the
first of those denounced by the Prior to fall into the toils.
We may suppose, at least, that it was not long thereafter; we
may suppose him competed for between lay and clerical Courts;
and we may suppose him alternately pert and impudent, humble
and fawning, in his defence. But at the end of all
supposing, we come upon some nuggets of fact. For first, he
was put to the question by water. He who had tossed off so
many cups of white Baigneux or red Beaune, now drank water
through linen folds, until his bowels were flooded and his
heart stood still. After so much raising of the elbow, so
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: One evening, after he had followed them to their dwelling,
and had seen them disappear through the carriage gate, he entered
in their train and said boldly to the porter:--
"Is that the gentleman who lives on the first floor, who has just
come in?"
"No," replied the porter. "He is the gentleman on the third floor."
Another step gained. This success emboldened Marius.
"On the front?" he asked.
"Parbleu!" said the porter, "the house is only built on the street."
"And what is that gentleman's business?" began Marius again.
"He is a gentleman of property, sir. A very kind man who does
Les Miserables |
