The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Alkahest by Honore de Balzac: clothe herself admirably, and without producing incongruity between
her elegance and the defects of her conformation. The bust, however,
was defective in the shoulders only, one of which was noticeably much
larger than the other.
She looked out of the window into the court-yard, then towards the
garden, as if to make sure she was alone with Balthazar, and presently
said, in a gentle voice and with a look full of a Flemish woman's
submissiveness,--for between these two love had long since driven out
the pride of her Spanish nature:--
"Balthazar, are you so very busy? this is the thirty-third Sunday
since you have been to mass or vespers."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart: "You are a friend of Mr. Clark's? Then the report was correct.
He is still alive, sir?"
"Yes."
The valet got out a handkerchief and wiped his face. He was
clearly moved.
"I am glad of that. Very glad. I saw some months ago, in a
newspaper - where is he?"
"In New York. Now Melis, I've an idea that you know something about
the crime Judson Clark was accused of. You intimated that at the
inquest."
"Mrs. Lucas killed him."
 The Breaking Point |