| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: discounting the planters' claims on the government. The business was
carried on under the names of Werbrust and Gigonnet, with whom he
shared the spoil without disbursements, for his knowledge was accepted
instead of capital. The agency was a sort of distillery, in which
money was extracted from doubtful claims, and the claims of those who
knew no better, or had no confidence in the government. As a
liquidator, Gobseck could make terms with the large landed
proprietors; and these, either to gain a higher percentage of their
claims, or to ensure prompt settlements, would send him presents in
proportion to their means. In this way presents came to be a kind of
percentage upon sums too large to pass through his control, while the
Gobseck |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Land that Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Passed through dense forests close to the base of the cliffs.
Saw manlike creatures and a low order of ape in one band, and
some of the men swore that there was a white man among them.
They were inclined to attack us at first; but a volley from our
rifles caused them to change their minds. We scaled the cliffs
as far as we could; but near the top they are absolutely
perpendicular without any sufficient cleft or protuberance to
give hand or foot-hold. All were disappointed, for we hungered
for a view of the ocean and the outside world. We even had a
hope that we might see and attract the attention of a passing ship.
Our exploration has determined one thing which will probably
The Land that Time Forgot |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: shadow on the lady's face, when a gentleman drew near and
very civilly addressed me.
'Miss Gould, I believe?' said he; and then, excusing himself
to the lady by the authority of my guardian, drew me to the
fore platform of the Pullman car. 'Miss Gould,' he said in
my ear, 'is it possible that you suppose yourself in safety?
Let me completely undeceive you. One more such indiscretion
and you return to Utah. And, in the meanwhile, if this woman
should again address you, you are to reply with these words:
"Madam, I do not like you, and I will be obliged if you will
suffer me to choose my own associates."'
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