| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie: moderate. As for the other fellow, I think I can give a good
guess." He handed another photograph to Tommy, and smiled at the
other's exclamation. "I'm right, then. Who is he? Irishman.
Prominent Unionist M.P. All a blind, of course. We've suspected
it--but couldn't get any proof. Yes, you've done very well, young
man. The 29th, you say, is the date. That gives us very little
time--very little time indeed."
"But----" Tommy hesitated.
Mr. Carter read his thoughts.
"We can deal with the General Strike menace, I think. It's a
toss-up--but we've got a sporting chance! But if that draft
Secret Adversary |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tess of the d'Urbervilles, A Pure Woman by Thomas Hardy: "At the same place--Marlott. On the further side of
Blackmoor Vale."
"Ah, then I HAVE seen you before this summer----"
"Yes; at that dance on the green; but you would not
dance with me. O, I hope that is of no ill-omen for us
now!"
XXXI
Tess wrote a most touching and urgent letter to her
mother the very next day, and by the end of the week a
response to her communication arrive in Joan
Durbeyfield's wandering last-century hand.
Tess of the d'Urbervilles, A Pure Woman |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: the last Duke died.
FIRST CITIZEN
They will try him first, and sentence him afterwards, will they
not, neighbour Anthony?
SECOND CITIZEN
Nay, for he might 'scape his punishment then; but they will condemn
him first so that he gets his deserts, and give him trial
afterwards so that no injustice is done.
FIRST CITIZEN
Well, well, it will go hard with him I doubt not.
SECOND CITIZEN
|
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 Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: deaf and blind to anything but heavenly sights and sounds.
Then the earth for you is only a standing place--and whether
to be like this is your loss or your gain I won't pretend to say.
But most of us are neither one nor the other. The earth for us
is a place to live in, where we must put up with sights,
with sounds, with smells, too, by Jove!--breathe dead hippo,
so to speak, and not be contaminated. And there, don't you see?
Your strength comes in, the faith in your ability for
the digging of unostentatious holes to bury the stuff in--
your power of devotion, not to yourself, but to an obscure,
back-breaking business. And that's difficult enough. Mind, I am
Heart of Darkness |
