| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: be a juicy bit of business for you.'
"I looked at my man, and said, by way of sounding him:
" 'Just explain to me how it is that we, the Count and I, are the only
men in whom you take an interest?'
" 'Because you are the only two who have trusted me without
finessing,' he said.
"Although this answer warranted my belief that Gobseck would act
fairly even if the counter-deed were lost, I resolved to go to see the
Count. I pleaded a business engagement, and we separated.
"I went straight to the Rue du Helder, and was shown into a room where
the Countess sat playing with her children. When she heard my name,
Gobseck |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad: the tempestuous anguish of his soul. And later on I seemed to see
his collected languid manner, when he said one day, `This lot
of ivory now is really mine. The Company did not pay for it.
I collected it myself at a very great personal risk.
I am afraid they will try to claim it as theirs though.
H'm. It is a difficult case. What do you think I ought
to do--resist? Eh? I want no more than justice.'
. . . He wanted no more than justice--no more than justice.
I rang the bell before a mahogany door on the first floor,
and while I waited he seemed to stare at me out of the glassy panel--
stare with that wide and immense stare embracing, condemning,
Heart of Darkness |
