| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Death of the Lion by Henry James: it to be directed to my host and stamped with the name of his
publishers. I instantly divined that THE EMPIRE had spoken of him,
and I've not forgotten the odd little shock of the circumstance.
It checked all eagerness and made me drop the paper a moment. As I
sat there conscious of a palpitation I think I had a vision of what
was to be. I had also a vision of the letter I would presently
address to Mr. Pinhorn, breaking, as it were, with Mr. Pinhorn. Of
course, however, the next minute the voice of THE EMPIRE was in my
ears.
The article wasn't, I thanked heaven, a review; it was a "leader,"
the last of three, presenting Neil Paraday to the human race. His
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Commission in Lunacy by Honore de Balzac: to the lawyer. Popinot felt that it was quite unnecessary to question
the Marquis as to his relations towards his sons.
"Have you enjoyed yourselves?" asked the Marquis.
"Yes, father; I knocked down six dolls in twelve shots at the first
trial!" cried Camille.
"And where did you ride?"
"In the Bois; we saw my mother."
"Did she stop?"
"We were riding so fast just then that I daresay she did not see us,"
replied the young Count.
"But, then, why did you not go to speak to her?"
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Art of War by Sun Tzu: only, meant holding the entire invading army in check and thus
gaining invaluable time. Cf. Wu Tzu, ch. V. ad init.: "For
those who have to fight in the ratio of one to ten, there is
nothing better than a narrow pass." When Lu Kuang was returning
from his triumphant expedition to Turkestan in 385 A.D., and had
got as far as I-ho, laden with spoils, Liang Hsi, administrator
of Liang-chou, taking advantage of the death of Fu Chien, King of
Ch`in, plotted against him and was for barring his way into the
province. Yang Han, governor of Kao-ch`ang, counseled him,
saying: "Lu Kuang is fresh from his victories in the west, and
his soldiers are vigorous and mettlesome. If we oppose him in
The Art of War |
