The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: absolutely alike, confirmed their previous depositions. This point was
naturally one of vehement contention between Monsieur de Grandville
and the prosecuting officer. The defence called the blacksmith at
Cinq-Cygne and succeeded in proving that he had sold several
horseshoes of the same pattern to strangers who were not known in the
place. The blacksmith declared, moreover, that he was in the habit of
shoeing in this particular manner not only the horses of the chateau
de Cinq-Cygne, but those from other places in the canton. It was also
proved that the horse which Michu habitually rode was always shod at
Troyes, and the mark of that shoe was not among the hoof-prints found
in the park.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Mountains by Stewart Edward White: a nervous female head waiter who at last mustered
up courage enough to inform me that guests were
not allowed to eat without coats. We politely pointed
out that we possessed no such garments. After a long
consultation with the proprietor she told us it was all
right for this time, but that we must not do it again.
At another place I had to identify myself as a
responsible person by showing a picture in a magazine
bought for the purpose.
The public never will know how to take you.
Most of it treats you as though you were a two-dollar
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Eve and David by Honore de Balzac: father; for in a few hours' time life will be over for me. My last sun
has risen," said Lucien; with a sort of rhetorical effect he waved his
hand towards the sky.
"How so; what have you done that you must die? Who has condemned you
to die?"
"A tribunal from which there is no appeal--I myself."
"You, child!" cried the priest. "Have you killed a man? Is the
scaffold waiting for you? Let us reason together a little. If you are
resolved, as you say, to return to nothingness, everything on earth is
indifferent to you, is it not?"
Lucien bowed assent.
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