| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: known that the Czar was acquainted with this conspiracy,
and that it was for the purpose of baffling it that a courier
had been intrusted with the important warning. Hence,
therefore, the very stringent instructions which had been
given to the young courier to pass incognito through the
invaded district.
This mission he had so far faithfully performed, but now
could he carry it to a successful completion?
The blow which had struck Michael Strogoff was not
mortal. By swimming in a manner by which he had
effectually concealed himself, he had reached the right bank,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Adieu by Honore de Balzac: crackling of the flames, the distant murmur of the camps, and the
blows of the sabre given to what remained of Bichette in search of her
tenderest morsels. A few miserable creatures, perhaps more weary than
the rest, were sleeping; when one of their number rolled into the fire
no one attempted to help him out. These stern logicians argued that if
he were not dead his burns would warn him to find a safer place. If
the poor wretch waked in the flames and perished, no one cared. Two or
three soldiers looked at each other to justify their own indifference
by that of others. Twice this scene had taken place before the eyes of
the countess, who said nothing. When the various pieces of Bichette,
placed here and there upon the embers, were sufficiently broiled, each
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: age of ambition, he scoffs at everything; he has grace and
originality, two rare qualities because the one is apt to exclude the
other. On this occasion he talked for nearly half an hour with madame
de Listomere, without any predetermined idea of pleasing her. As they
followed the caprices of conversation, which, beginning with the opera
of "Guillaume Tell," had reached the topic of the duties of women, he
looked at the marquise, more than once, in a manner that embarrassed
her; then he left her and did not speak to her again for the rest of
the evening. He danced, played at ecarte, lost some money, and went
home to bed. I have the honor to assure you that the affair happened
precisely thus. I add nothing, and I suppress nothing.
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