| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: French law for the sale of the property; nevertheless the Count gained
his point. The Countess was convinced that her husband was realizing
his fortune, and that somewhere or other there would be a little bunch
of notes representing the amount; they had been deposited with a
notary, or perhaps at the bank, or in some safe hiding-place.
Following out her train of thought, it was evident that M. de Restaud
must of necessity have some kind of document in his possession by
which any remaining property could be recovered and handed over to his
son.
"So she made up her mind to keep the strictest possible watch over the
sick-room. She ruled despotically in the house, and everything in it
Gobseck |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Ferragus by Honore de Balzac: have had several unfortunate accidents lately, which I have greatly
regretted; but how could I have had anything to do with them?"
"You knew that /bravi/ were employed against me by that man of the rue
Soly?"
"Monsieur!"
"Madame, I now call you to account, not for my happiness only, but for
my blood--"
At this instant Jules Desmarets approached them.
"What are you saying to my wife, monsieur?"
"Make that inquiry at my own house, monsieur, if you are curious,"
said Maulincour, moving away, and leaving Madame Jules in an almost
Ferragus |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Passion in the Desert by Honore de Balzac: always impresses me favorably. He was without doubt one of those
troopers who are surprised at nothing, who find matter for laughter in
the contortions of a dying comrade, who bury or plunder him quite
light-heartedly, who stand intrepidly in the way of bullets;--in fact,
one of those men who waste no time in deliberation, and would not
hesitate to make friends with the devil himself. After looking very
attentively at the proprietor of the menagerie getting out of his box,
my companion pursed up his lips with an air of mockery and contempt,
with that peculiar and expressive twist which superior people assume
to show they are not taken in. Then, when I was expatiating on the
courage of M. Martin, he smiled, shook his head knowingly, and said,
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