| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Ferragus by Honore de Balzac: my grandson that we must rely, monsieur, on your entire
discretion.
If Monsieur le Vidame or I could have gone to see you we would not
have written. But I make no doubt that you will regard this prayer
of a mother, who begs you to destroy this letter.
Accept the assurance of my perfect consideration.
Baronne de Maulincour, /nee/ de Rieux.
"Oh! what torture!" cried Jules.
"What is it? what is in your mind?" asked his wife, exhibiting the
deepest anxiety.
"I have come," he answered, slowly, as he threw her the letter, "to
Ferragus |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: that it is strong, but not so strong as to convince me of the
truth of so improbable a story. How in the world could the
American have brought you through the castle, from one
end to the other, unseen? There was a guard before the
king's door and another before this. No, Herr Custer, you
will have to concoct a more plausible tale.
"No," and Peter of Blentz scowled savagely, as though to
impress upon his listener the importance of his next utterance,
"there were more than you and the king involved in his
sudden departure from Blentz and in his hasty change of
policy toward Austria. To be quite candid, it seems to me
The Mad King |
