| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Muse of the Department by Honore de Balzac: that he would have been set at large but for the blind belief that the
spies had in their instructions, which were unfortunately only too
minute. In this dilemma the authorities were more ready to risk an
arbitrary act than to let a man escape to whose capture the Minister
attached great importance. In those days of liberty the agents of the
powers in authority cared little enough for what we now regard as
/legal/. The Chevalier was therefore imprisoned provisionally, until
the superior officials should come to some decision as to his
identity. He had not long to wait for it; orders were given to guard
the prisoner closely in spite of his denials.
"The Chevalier de Beauvoir was next transferred, in obedience to
The Muse of the Department |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from Captain Stormfield by Mark Twain: out anything. Close by us was the Grand Stand - tier on tier of
dim thrones rising up toward the zenith. From each side of it
spread away the tiers of seats for the general public. They spread
away for leagues and leagues - you couldn't see the ends. They
were empty and still, and hadn't a cheerful look, but looked
dreary, like a theatre before anybody comes - gas turned down.
Sandy says, -
"We'll sit down here and wait. We'll see the head of the
procession come in sight away off yonder pretty soon, now."
Says I, -
"It's pretty lonesome, Sandy; I reckon there's a hitch somewheres.
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