| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: "His Excellency! who is he?" said Joseph Bridau.
"Why, Monsieur le Comte de Serizy, of course," replied little Moreau.
"Could it have been the count in the coucou?" said Leon de Lora.
"Oh!" exclaimed Oscar, "the Comte de Serizy always travels in his own
carriage with four horses."
"How did the Comte de Serizy get here?" said the painter to Madame
Moreau, when she returned, much discomfited, to the salon.
"I am sure I do not know," she said. "I cannot explain to myself this
sudden arrival; nor do I know what has brought him-- And Moreau not
here!"
"His Excellency wishes Monsieur Schinner to come over to the chateau,"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: "I like an animated picture."
Miss Lombard, who had unlocked the door, held back the tapestry
to let her father and Wyant pass out; then she followed them down
a narrow stone passage with another door at its end. This door
was iron-barred, and Wyant noticed that it had a complicated
patent lock. The girl fitted another key into the lock, and
Doctor Lombard led the way into a small room. The dark panelling
of this apartment was irradiated by streams of yellow light
slanting through the disbanded thunder clouds, and in the central
brightness hung a picture concealed by a curtain of faded velvet.
"A little too bright, Sybilla," said Doctor Lombard. His face
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