Thursday, January 30, 2020
The Relationship Between the Barbarian Nations and China Essay Example for Free
The Relationship Between the Barbarian Nations and China Essay Introduction            One of the more notable periods in Chinese history was the establishment of the so-called â€Å"Barbarian nations†that happened between 309 to 439 B.C. These ‘Barbarian nations were also known as the â€Å"Sixteen States†or â€Å"Sixteen Kingdoms†though these were never part of nor considered to be dynasties among themselves. The Barbarian nations mainly comprised of: the  Han Zhao and Latter Zhao (Houzhao), Cheng Han, Former Liang (Qianliang), Latter Liang (Houliang), Northern Liang(Beiliang), Western (Xiliang) and Southern Liang (Nanliang), Former Yian (Qianyan), Latter Yan (Houyan) , Northern Yan (Beiyan) and Southern Yan (Nanyan), Former Qin (Qianqin), Latter Qin (Houqin) and Western Qin (Xiqin) and finally the Xia nations(â€Å"Sixteen Kingdoms†, 2006). The sixteen barbarians nations are considered as such because most of the people who belong in these states are not Chinese, though some were assimilated and integrated into Chinese culture later on. These ethnic groups include Turks, Mongolians and Tibetans characterized by their nomadic in nature and small populations (â€Å"History of China†, 2006). Also, although the leaders of the barbarian nations adapted Chinese customs and governance, most of them are not of Chinese descent. The barbarian leaders were largely considered as unscrupulous warmongers whose only ambition is to conquer China for themselves. All their political and military strategies were geared towards the short-run, and this proved to be the downfall of their small empires (Theobald, 2000). China’s relationship with the Barbarian Nations            The occupation of the various ethnic groups making up the Sixteen Barbarian nations were practically due to the various military uprisings that happened within the Jin Dynasty such as the so-called â€Å"Rebellion of the Eight Princes†(Theobald, 2000). The leaders of the sixteen barbarian states then saw this as an opportunity to seize control of China. In actuality, the Jin dynasty only managed to control the southern part of the Yangtze River, leaving the rest of China vulnerable to occupation. This weakness lead to the occupation of Northern China by ethnic groups and by the turn of the fifth century almost all of the ethnic groups that managed to control certain territories have already established their own states. Collectively, the fifteen major states that were established in Northern China along with the Kingdom of Chenghan located in the Southwest eventually became the sixteen barbarian nations. These sixteen states were autonomous from each other and conflict never seems to cease in between them and of course with the Jin dynasty. These conflicts lead not only to numerous deaths but also to the deterioration of the economy in Northern China as well as inter-racial mixing due to prolonged contact between the ethnic groups. Having been driven out from their territory, the Jin dynasty leaders never ceased their plans to reoccupy Northern China. Among these warriors sent by the Jin dynasty was Zudi, a gentry-official who regained the entire Yellow River Valley even though it was for a brief period of time. The noble of the Jin dynasty were able to conduct more attacks against the barbarian nations, but like Zudi’s campaign, they all failed because of the fierce counter-attacks made by the ethnic groups (â€Å"The History of China-The Sixteen States-Political History†, 2006).            Due to the conflicts that raged on the Northern China, the nobles of what remains of the Jin Dynasty decided to let the ethnic groups do as they please as they established a new economic order in the South of the Yangtze. This economic boom was made possible through the migration of peasants from the North who were seeking refuge from the conflict between the Jin Dynasty and the barbarian nations, effectively boosting not only manpower but also the technology base for both agriculture and handicrafts at that time (Theobald, 2000). Due to these developments in agriculture and handicrafts, commerce in the southern part of the Yangtze flourished. Later on, the city of Jianking was made by the Eastern Jin as their new capital city with the economic center moving from the Yangtze River Valley into the Yellow River Valley (â€Å"The History of China-The Sixteen States-Political History†, 2006). Conclusion    The establishment of the barbarian nations was considered by many as a foolish attempt to revitalize China. What the barbarian leaders might not have realized is that their plans and schemes were for short-term conquest rather than long-term governance which is necessary for the establishment of a strong nation. As with all violent uprising, the events that lead to the conflict between the Jin dynasty and the barbarian nations only lead to numerous deaths. But despite being laden with blood and violence, the relationship between the barbarian nations and China during the Jin dynasty yielded some advantages. For one, the Jianking flourished as one of China’s center for commerce at that time. Another unforeseen benefit was that it facilitated the transfer of agricultural and other form of livelihood technologies from the Northern part of China into the Southern part of Yangtze which eventually lead to the stability of the Jin Dynasty economy at that time. Also the dynasty was able to realize that the area they have evacuated into have high potentials for agriculture as the Yangtze river provided more than enough water for irrigation. Without this seemingly serendipitous migration of farmers, the Jin dynasty could never have established their strong economic hold upon the Southern part of the Yangtze which could have spelled their immediate downfall. This proves that the common folk are the backbone of any great empire and that noble and even barbarians should never ignore their importance. REFERENCES   â€Å"History of China†. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/imperial.html#han. â€Å"Sixteen Kingdoms†. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sixteen_Kingdoms â€Å"The History of China-The Sixteen State’s Political History†(2006). TravelChinaGuide.com. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/jin/eastern.htm Theobald, Ulrich (2000). Chinese History.-Three Kingdoms. CHINAKNOWLEDGE a universal guide for China studies. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Song/song.html A comparison between life in China during the period of the Three Kingdoms and the Sung Dynasty Introduction            China is a well-know all over the world as a country with a very fascinating history filled with bloodshed and discovery. China’s timeline is riddled with civil wars and conquests and it has been known that the country has undergone a multitude of political and regional divisions. Among the two famous periods in Chinese history are the period of the Three Kingdoms and the Sung Dynasty. Although separated almost 700 years apart, there have been a number of striking similarities and differences between the two periods. The period of the Three Kingdoms is actually a part of the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.) in which various scientific and cultural advances were made (â€Å"History of China†, 2006). It is also at this period of political turmoil that three states (later known as â€Å"kingdoms†) tried to gain prominence and glory as China’s seat of power. This power struggle between the Three Kingdoms ignited a whole new series of wars, thus the period earned the distinction of being the â€Å"bloodiest†period in China. Though it has been known as such, the Three Kingdoms is immortalized today in many forms o media such as television programs, books and even video games (â€Å"Three Kingdoms†, 2006). On the other hand, the Sung Dynasty (960 B.C., also known as Song Dynasty) is known as period of unification for China despite being besieged by barbarian raiders from all directions. The Sung Dynasty is further divided into two different periods namely the Northern Sung Period and the Southern Sung Period. The Northern Sung (960-1127 B.C.) refers to the time when the dynasty was based in Kaifeng where it controlled most of mainland China. The Southern Sung (1127-1129 B.C.) On the other hand refers to the period when members of the Sung court sought refuge in Hangzhou city located south of the Yangtze River (â€Å"Song Dynasty†, 2006). Life in the Period of the Three Kingdoms            The period of the Three Kingdoms was characterized as period of great political turmoil in Chinese history. After the death of the great Chinese warlord Cao Cao (220 B.C.), his son Cao Pi established the first â€Å"kingdom†among the Three Kingdoms, known as â€Å"Wei†thus ending the Han dynasty. Soon after, the warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan established the â€Å"Shu†and â€Å"Wu†kingdoms respectively. Each of these warlords tried to control China through bloodshed and conquest but none of them ever prevailed (Theobald, 2000).            It is widely believed that much Chinese technological and cultural advancement were created at this time despite heavy political turmoil that characterizes the period. Some of the more notable inventions during the time of the Three Kingdoms were gunpowder and wheelbarrow (Poon, n.d.). On an economic standpoint, the period of the Three Kingdoms was among the wealthiest periods in Chinese history. The prosperity of the Han dynasty was also carried over unto this period as leaps and bounds in trade and commerce as well as transportation were evident (â€Å"Three Kingdoms†, 2006).            On a socio-cultural standpoint, the period of the Three Kingdoms saw the assimilation of the so-called â€Å"barbarians†in mainstream Chinese culture. This was also the time when Buddhism was spreading across China. This form of Buddhism was a cross of Indian Buddhism and Taoism (Frankenstein, n.d.) Life during the Sung Dynasty            The Sung Dynasty (960-1127 B.C.) emerged almost 700 years after the affairs of the Three Kingdoms and is widely revered as the â€Å"Chinese Renaissance†. Much of this period is characterized by political stability and prosperity just like in the period of the Three Kingdoms. This was the time of what is known as â€Å"civilian rule†, which favors the appointment of commoners (such as civilian scholar-officials) into government office. This centralized the current Emperor’s dominion over China. In terms of economy, the Sung period is known for the emergence of a new caste of wealthy commoners called the mercantile class. It can be said that in this period, Chinese trade and commerce were at its peak. This was also the time when printing made publications more available to the common folk, leading to the improvement of the education status of commoners all around China (Poon, n.d.)            The socio-cultural impacts of this period is shown by the adaptation of a new form of Confucianism called â€Å"Neo-Confucianism†which took on a more metaphysical view of Confucian teachings, taking Confucianism into greater heights that were never perceived off in the past. Also, at this time, Buddhism continued to flourish into what is known as the â€Å"Tang age of Buddhism†(Theobald, 2000). Conclusion            Both the Sung dynasty and the period of the Three Kingdoms showed economic growth and prosperity during their existence. This growth in the economy greatly favored merchants and commoners alike, especially in the Sung Dynasty when â€Å"civilian rule†was in effect. Though prosperity was also evident in the time of the Three Kingdoms, civilians were the one’s who were near the losing end because of the constant turmoil and death that surrounds them. The time of the Three Kingdoms on the other hand favored men of science and warmongers, as it is to be considered as a time of breakthroughs and innovations particularly in the field of warfare. For those who are involved in social and political matters, it can be said that the Sung Dynasty was the more favorable among the two time periods as there was at least some political stability at that time. For Buddhists, both periods are to be considered favorable as Buddhism continued to grow in spite of all the conflict and confusion that surrounded both time periods. REFERENCES Frakenstein, Pual. (n.d.). Song Dynasty. Condensed China. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://condensedchina.com/china2.html#3Kings â€Å"History of China†. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://www- chaos.umd.edu/history/imperial.html#han. Poon, Leon (n.d.) The Imperial Area. History of China Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/imperial.html#han. â€Å"Song Dynasty†. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_Dynasty Theobald, Ulrich (2000). Chinese History.-Three Kingdoms. CHINAKNOWLEDGE a universal guide for China studies. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Song/song.html â€Å"The Three Kingdoms†. (2006). Wikipedia. Retrieved August 11, 2006 from            http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Kingdoms#Three_emperors
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Essay --
Dividend News for 2013 When the budget deal was agreed upon for the beginning of the year, this included rates on dividends. Qualified dividends, including capital gains, for individuals in the 25%, 28%, 33%, and 35% income tax brackets will continue to be taxed at 15%. Individuals making more than $400,000 in taxable income or couples making more than $450,000 will see their rate rise to 20%. Individuals in the 10% and 15% brackets as before will have a zero tax rate. Charles Farrell, chief executive of Northstar Investment Advisors LLC had stated that these tax rates for this year were pretty consistent. If they had been higher, investors probably would have been favoring non-income producing assets. Although, taxes on dividends will continue to rise for individuals making incomes above $200,000 or families making income above $250,000 due to the new Medicare tax (Ruffenach, 2013). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 increased tax rates in 2013 for upper bracket taxpayers by 3.8% (Eyde n, 2013). This 3.8% tax applies to net investment returns which covers capital gains, interest, certain annuities, and dividends. So, many families will pay around 18.8% which includes 15% plus 3.8%, plus state taxes. For others who are the high wage earners will pay tax on dividends around 23.8% which includes 20% plus 3.8%. About 80% of companies in the S&P 500 pay dividends. Some of these companies include Exxon, IBM, Apple, Chevron, and Procter & Gamble (Ruffenach, 2013). Dividends are crucial to long term returns. Looking back on the past 100 years, dividends accounted for about 50% of an investor’s total return. The other 50% is from price appreciation or capital gains. If an investor were to cut dividends out of their por... ... 2013). The Bottom Line The dividend tax rate discussion continues to be an argument in board rooms, think tanks, and in Washington (Flannelly, 2013). There has been much controversy whether or not dividends and capital gains should receive preferential tax treatment. The rates of taxation on dividends and capital gains have always been progressive, perhaps for the fairness of the overall economy (Eyden, 2013). As an individual investor, it does not matter what dividend tax rates are, because attractive returns can be realized. Although there is some clarity to the short term future of dividend tax rates, it will be a surety that this will change sometime down the road. With a discussion about the history, the news, the theory, and data about dividend tax rates, this can help with some uncertainty and insight of dividend taxes (Flannelly, 2013).
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Financial Management Integrated Case 2 Answers
|Ally Zmijeski | |Financial Management Section C | |Homework 2: Integrated Case Questions | Chapter 2 Integrated Case 2-11A) In a well-functioning economy, capital flows efficiently from those with surplus capital to those who need it in one of three ways: †¢ Direct transfers: occur when a business sells its stocks or bonds directly to savers without going through any type of financial institution. This is used primarily by small firms and doesn’t raise much capital. †¢ Transfers also can go through an investment bank that underwrites the issue, or serves as middleman/facilitator.The company sells its stocks or bonds to the investment bank, which then sells these same securities to savers. Because new securities are involved and the corporation receives the sale proceeds, this transaction is called a primary market transaction. †¢ Transfers can also be made through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, insurance company, or mutual fund. Intermediaries inc rease efficiency of money and capital markets. B) People and organizations wanting to borrow money are brought together with those who have surplus funds in the financial markets.Types of Financial Markets include†¦ †¢ Physical Asset vs. Financial Asset: physical asset markets are for tangible products, while financial asset markets are for stocks, bonds, notes, and mortgages. They also deal with derivative securities whose values are derived from changes in the prices of other assets. o A share of Ford stock is a pure financial asset, while an option to buy Ford shares is a derivative security whose value depends on the price of Ford stock. †¢ Spot Markets vs.Futures Markets: spot markets are markets in which assets are bought or sold for on the spot delivery (within a few days). Future markets are markets in which participants agree today to buy or sell an asset at some future date. Future market transactions can reduce, or hedge, the risks faced by buyers and selle rs if the market changes. †¢ Money Markets vs. Capital Markets: money markets are the markets for short-term, highly liquid debt securities. Capital markets are the markets for intermediate or long-term debt and corporate stocks, like the NYSX. Short-term markets = less than one year o Intermediate term markets = 1 to 10 years o Long-term markets = more than 10 years †¢ Primary markets are the markets in which corporations raise new capital, so the corporation itself receives proceeds. †¢ Secondary markets are markets in which existing, already outstanding securities are traded among investors. The corporation does not receive funds from a secondary market sale. †¢ Private markets are markets in which transactions are negotiated directly between two parties. Public markets are markets where standardized contracts are traded on organized exchanges. C) Financial markets are essential for a healthy economy and economic growth because they provide a variety of opport unities for buyers and sellers to meet, exchange goods and services, better address financial needs, and accumulate wealth to stimulate the economy. D) A derivative is any security whose value is derived from the price of some other underlying asset.The use of derivatives has increased in recent years. If a bank or any other company invests in derivatives, it is difficult to tell whether it is an investment as a hedge against something like an increase in the price of good X, or a speculative bet that prices will rise. This makes the firm’s risk profile more difficult to determine. Derivatives can hedge risk if the price of a good is assumed to change in the future, or if the company is dealing with foreign markets.However, if a company is buying derivatives to speculate on a price change that could ultimately benefit them, this is raising the company’s risk because they are unsure of the future worth of assets associated with the derivative. E) Investment banks help c ompanies raise capital by helping them design attractive securities, buying securities from corporations, and reselling them to savers. Commercial banks are large national banks that offer a variety of services to a wide range of customers.Financial services corporations are large conglomerates that combine many different financial institutions within a single corporation. Most started in one area but later diversified to cover more of the financial spectrum, like including insurance or leasing companies. Pension funds are retirement plans funded by corporations or government agencies for their workers. Mutual funds are corporations that accept money from savers and then use those funds to buy stocks, long-term bonds, or short term debt instruments issued by businesses/government.They pool funds and reduce risk through diversification. Exchange traded funds are similar to regular mutual funds and are often operated by mutual fund companies. ETFs buy a portfolio of stocks of a certai n type and then sell their own shares to the public. Hedge funds are similar to mutual funds because they accept money from savers and use the funds to buy various securities, but they are largely unregulated, have large minimum investments, and are marketed to high net worth people.Private equity companies are organizations that operate much like hedge funds, but they buy and then manage entire firms. They are relatively unregulated. F) The two leading stock markets are the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq. Physical location exchanges are tangible entities that have their own building and an elected governing body called a board of governors. The exchange members will sell orders offer the shares for sale, and they are bid for by the members with buy orders.OTC markets are often referred to today as dealer markets, and include all the facilities that are needed to conduct security transactions, but not all are made on the physical location exchanges. The dealer market system consists of the relatively few dealers who hold inventories of securities and make a market for the securities, the thousands of brokers who act as agents in bringing the dealers together with investors, and the computers, terminals, and electronic networks that provide a communication link between dealers and brokers.G) Since Varga is not purchasing the stock directly from Apple, but instead from Smyth Barry, who probably purchased it from Apple, she is dealing in a secondary market; the money she spends to buy the stock is not going directly to Apple, but to a second party. This would not be different if Varga purchased previously outstanding Apple stock in the dealer market, because in both situations she is not giving money directly to Apple, but buying stock that someone else has bought previously from Apple. H) An initial public offering, or IPO, is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public.IPOs are often issued by smaller, newer companies seeking the fu nds to expand, but can also be done by large privately owned companies looking to become publicly traded. I) Efficient Market: a market in which prices are close to intrinsic values and stocks seem to be in equilibrium. Today, we have an efficiency continuum, where the market for some companies’ stocks is highly efficient and the market for other stocks is highly inefficient. This is defined by the size of the company – the bigger the company is, the more analysts tend to follow it, so new information is more likely to be reflected in the stock price.J) Part One: If the stock market is highly efficient, this would imply that the company that received the FDA grant is a large and well-researched firm, so the rise in the company’s stock price is reflective of its true value and would be a good purchase. Still, I would recommend warning Michelle that some companies let information like this leak into the public for hidden reasons, so she should do her own research to ensure the new stock price is close to its true value.Part Two: Oftentimes, stock prices at IPO’s and shortly thereafter are the highest they will ever be for the company. This is a result of the hype created by the company, media, and investing world around its first public offering. I would tell Michelle again to do her own research, but I also think if she is the type of investor who enjoys the risk of a new company and the excitement of that type of investment, that if she understands the potential to lose, she might as well buy a reasonable number of shares.
Monday, January 6, 2020
Gothic Short Story Course Work
Claude Allà ©gre was punctiliously peregrinating through the thick bushes beleaguering the outer borders of the Notre Dame de Lorette district. His leather bound feet were stepping over the inumbrated shrubbery, irradiated only by the light of the crescent moon, detaching the darkness of the silvery-outlined clouds. His mind was pullulating with thoughts that had not left him for days, thoughts not of the neoteric proclamation of the Second Empire by Napoleon III, but rather, thoughts of his amant de coeur, Dominique, who had perished a mere few days ago. Claude, the mild, impecunious student, madly and devotedly in love with this pulchritudinous, illusive lady, and fortunate enough to have his emotions reciprocated, was bewildered with this infelicity that was the vanishing of his beloved. When she failed to come for the last of their nightly rendezvous, he cognized something alarming had happened, and when near his very threshold, he stumbled across a little shoe with square toes, of crimson red roses embroidered on a black surface, the inside of which was a hiding place of a small, barely legible, stained piece of paper, which read â€Å"Only you can help me,†he knew he had not a moment to lose. Under normal circumstances, he would not dream of going out without waxing his moustache upward, for, even though a man could be destitute, poor grooming had no excuse. This was one of the many things Dominique loved about him. But now, he rushed out of his petite, rented apartment without so much as looking himself in the mirror. The collapsing dreams troubling his mind kept their concourse inside the locked chambers of his thoughts, while he was rushing towards the only place he conjectured his beloved Dominique must be held prisoner. The reverberation of nature amalgamated with his footsteps, fiercely shattering little branches on the dusty trail leading through the small coppice. The leaves rustled beneath his shoes, and his coal-black hair was secreted under a leaning beret, with only a few curls of his hair sneaking from underneath. His hands he kept cozily inside his coat pockets, playing with a few coins, as if trying to foresee the luck of the coin and the fate he will be dealt. He did not traipse long, before a colossal chateau revealed itself in front of him, previously concealed from the eye by branches ringing with crimson, autumn leaves. The construction before him bore little resemblance to anything he had ever seen, with its inharmoniously ornamented towers, spires and arches pointing towards t he blackness of the sky. The solid walls and pillars appeared to hold prisoners inside, instead of inhabitants, with demonic stone gargoyles shielding the foundations from rain. The sublimity of the sight prostrating itself before his eyes left his mind in awe, and he almost forgot the reason he found himself in front of this chiseled marvel of architecture, seeking entrance. On pushing the unlocked door, the squeaking of which transfixed his ears, it took his eyes some time to adjust to the darkness reigning within. His fingers felt for a candelabrum to elucidate his passage through this dark, gothic conflagration he knew kept his darling a prisoner. The proprietor of this estate, a count of some sort, but whose name was too highbred for ordinary folk to be able to pronounce, as it was evident to all the townspeople, had little, if any contact with the outside world and rarely left the sanctity of these walls. Numerous speculations aromatized the air of many a tavern, such as concocted stories regarding the owner’s real reason of needing to remain unseen, such as him being deadly ill, a malefactor who is hiding from the hand of the law or even that he had died some time ago and there is actually no one residing in the old chateau. Stories circled, yet no one dared inquire into the real state of affairs. That is, until young women started disappear ing; beautiful, fragrant, virgins in the prime of their youth simply vanishing in the still of the night, never to be heard from again. Their passivity at handling this mystery appalled Claude, but he cared little about such things, as long as he had the means to carry on with his studies and to have Dominique by his side. Losing her meant having to act, immediately. On finding luminosity, his tremulous hand created an effervescence of illumination around him, which put his trembling heart at ease. The arrangement of objects around him, appeared strikingly familiar, but he attributed this to the instability of his mind due to the time and place he had found himself in, dealing with imminent danger and the utter necessity to find Dominique. The floorboards squealed beneath his leather shoes, dragging dirt along the occasionally carpeted floor. The winding stairs offered a passage into the fearsome darkness of the upper floor, but his heart pointed towards them and Claude knew he had to follow. Shadows oscillated along the walls, reaching to grab him, only to shun away from the light carried by the starry-eyed lover. The upper floor was peaceful, asleep, lulled in obscurity. The first door to the left was slightly ajar, temptingly dissipating a faint glimmer of light, coming from inside the room. Claude circumspectly followed the coruscating light, holding his even more determinedly. The room was miniature, shabbily furnished, with only one bed and a full-size, murky oaken wardrobe. The bed was in a state of disarray, as if someone left it in a hurry. Then, a faint outline of a small foot by the end of the bed caught his eye. He anxiously approached, with a flickering light, only to drop down to his knees at the sight before him. The small foot prolonged into a young woman’s body, lying breathless, cadaverous on the floor, immovable, with her right hand clutching at a small, golden pendant hanging from her neck, while her left hand was a nest for a little, burnt piece of paper. Her dainty, flowery body was wrapped up in a satin nightgown, cincturing the curves of the body he could no longe r touch. Then, a thundering sound from downstairs made Claude rush into the hallway, burning his fingers on the wax dripping from his half burnt candle. At the beginning of the long, winding stairs, there lay a body; a hideous, grotesquely deformed body of a hunchback, whose life blood was oozing from beneath a big shield, which was hooked on the adjacent wall mere seconds before. The repulsiveness of the body was astonishing. â€Å"Please†¦Ã¢â‚¬ The bloody mouth gurgled. Claude leaned over the expiring body. â€Å"I never wished to harm anyone†¦ I just wanted my beauty back so much†¦ I†¦ I never meant to harm those girls†¦ They were just necessary†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Claude looked at him with hatred. â€Å"I cannot forgive you. You took Dominique away from me†¦. She was my life. By killing her you killed me. May you burn in hell for all eternity, fiend!†His hands reached for the throat of the lying body and snapped the final remains of life from within it. On searching through the rest of the castle, Claude found diaries, belonging to a Count Gouitier, with horrible details, describing witchcraft and wizardry of a superstition-driven madman, who used the blood of virgins in endeavoring to restore his gentlemanly appearance, which he was stripped off due to a horrific accident, the nature of which there was no mention. He would extract their blood, then bathe in it, fill his pillows with the women’s hair and press their cut out lips to his face, madly desiring superficial beauty that was stolen from him. Claude closed the diary, with a feeling of disgust ad horror, and rushed towards the door. He did not turn back for Dominique. After all, it was not her anymore. She belonged to a heavenly place. Now, he knew that only fire could purify that wretched place. With that thought, he stepped into the engulfing darkness outside.
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