| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: then, and did not open until he had taken a look at me and saw who I
was.
" 'Well,' said he, in his thin, flute notes, 'so your principal is
selling his practice?'
" 'How did you know that?' said I; 'he has not spoken of it as yet
except to me.'
"The old man's lips were drawn in puckers, like a curtain, to either
corner of his mouth, as a soundless smile bore a hard glance company.
" 'Nothing else would have brought you here,' he said drily, after a
pause, which I spent in confusion.
" 'Listen to me, M. Gobseck,' I began, with such serenity as I could
 Gobseck |
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 Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer: he whispered. "My wrists are all cut, but when I've got out a knife
and freed my ankles--"
Smith had kicked him with his bound feet. The detective slipped
the bandage back to position and placed his hands behind him again.
Dr. Fu-Manchu, wearing a heavy overcoat but no hat, came aft.
He was dragging Karamaneh by the wrists. He seated himself
on the cushions near to us, pulling the girl down beside him.
Now, I could see her face--and the expression in her beautiful
eyes made me writhe.
Fu-Manchu was watching us, his discolored teeth faintly visible
in the dim light, to which my eyes were becoming accustomed.
 The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu |