| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: I am so discreet that the grave would appear a babbler
compared to me; but -- do you understand, my lord?"
"No," replied Monk, with persistent obstinacy.
"If another knew the secret which I know ---- "
"What secret?"
"Eh! my lord, why, that unfortunate secret of Newcastle."
"Oh! the million of M. le Comte de la Fere?"
"No, my lord, no; the enterprise made upon you grace's
person."
"It was well played, chevalier, that is all, and no more is
to be said about it: you are a soldier, both brave and
Ten Years Later |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: cards. He had to admit that he had never paid Mme. de Lamotte
100,000 livres; he had paid her only 25,000 livres in gold;
further pressed he said that the 25,000 livres had been made up
partly in gold, partly in bills; but where the gold had come
from, or on whom he had drawn the bills, he could not explain.
Still his position was not desperate; and he knew it. In the
absence of Mme. de Lamotte he could not be charged with fraud or
forgery; and until her body was discovered, it would be
impossible to charge him with murder.
A month passed; Mme. Derues, who had made a belated attempt to
follow her husband's example by impersonating Mme. de Lamotte in
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
