| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Twenty Years After by Alexandre Dumas: prostrate on the field of battle. He had been seen falling
from his horse and had not been seen to rise; every one,
therefore, believed him to be dead, especially those to whom
his death would give promotion. One believes readily what he
wishes to believe. Now in the army, from the
division-generals who desire the: death of the
general-in-chief, to the soldiers who desire the death of
the corporals, all desire some one's death.
But D'Artagnan was not a man to let himself be killed like
that. After he had remained through the heat of the day
unconscious on the battle-field, the cool freshness of the
 Twenty Years After |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Case of the Registered Letter by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: that you had to tell me. Try and rest a little now and meanwhile
be assured that I am doing all I can to find out the truth of this
matter. As far as I can tell now I do not believe that you have
killed John Siders. But I must find some further proofs that will
convince others as well as myself. If it is of any comfort to you,
I can tell you that during a long career as police detective I have
been most astonishingly fortunate in the cases I have undertaken.
I am hoping that my usual good luck will follow me here also. I am
hoping it for your sake."
The man on the cot took the hand the detective offered him and
pressed it firmly. "You will let me know as soon as you have found
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