| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: It's a perfect chronometer, look you."
"I see how it is," said Fix. "You have kept London time,
which is two hours behind that of Suez. You ought to regulate
your watch at noon in each country."
"I regulate my watch? Never!"
"Well, then, it will not agree with the sun."
"So much the worse for the sun, monsieur. The sun will be wrong, then!"
And the worthy fellow returned the watch to its fob with a
defiant gesture. After a few minutes silence, Fix resumed:
"You left London hastily, then?"
"I rather think so! Last Friday at eight o'clock in the evening,
Around the World in 80 Days |
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 The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad: what is; whereas what's wanted is a clean sweep and a clear start
for a new conception of life. That sort of future will take care
of itself if you will only make room for it. Therefore I would
shovel my stuff in heaps at the corners of the streets if I had
enough for that; and as I haven't, I do my best by perfecting a
really dependable detonator."
Ossipon, who had been mentally swimming in deep waters, seized upon
the last word as if it were a saving plank.
"Yes. Your detonators. I shouldn't wonder if it weren't one of
your detonators that made a clean sweep of the man in the park."
A shade of vexation darkened the determined sallow face confronting
The Secret Agent |
