My dear man,’ Philippa said. ‘It seems to me that you have no spirit left but the spirit of resentment.
Mr Blyth, you should remember one thing. A celibate island life fighting Turks is no particular guarantee of early maturity. Take a little crone-like advice, and don’t rush your judgements.
Lymond considered this with every appearance of seriousness. I see. Thus the baseness of my morals is redeemed by the stature of my manners? You admire consistency?Yes, I do.But prefer consistency in...
Lion-hearted; her tremors braced with virtue, Philippa trotted on.
Let us save everyone’s faces,’ Lymond said, ‘while we can. And before Master Buchanan is hurled to the floor by either Nicolas or a thunderbolt from the late Copernicus.
Jerott’s hand increased its grip on her arm. ‘He is an island with all its bridges wantonly severed. What hostage to evil,’ said Jerott, poetic in his thumping displeasure, ‘will this night’s business...
I’ll take care of it,’ said Richard Crawford quietly, and Lymond lifted his head. ‘Oh, Richard. Timely as ever. I want.…’‘I know what you want,’ said Lord Culter comfortably, and hooked an arm under h...
It was only the first stage, that was all. It was only the first knot in the snare, the first flick of the hook; the first hint of the spin in the arrow. The first letting of blood not his own.
It was a tragic and annihilating war, in which intellect fought naked with intellect, and the blows fell not upon the mind but upon the soul.
It is not easy for Brehons to decide concerning bees that have taken up their lodging in the trees of a noble dignitary; with respect to which it is not easy to cut the tree.
If you’re going to marry the youth, I shan’t touch him.’‘But you will be nasty to him,’ said Philippa gloomily. ‘You know you can’t help it.’‘I shall probably be nasty to him,’ Lymond agreed firmly. ‘...
If it had been reeled off with defiance, Richard could perhaps have tolerated it. Instead, delivered with restraint and with clarity, it was the voice of the Voevoda Bolshoia, unquestioned master of a...
If I am dead I cannot sponsor your travels. Except, clearly, in a direction you will never be called on to follow.
I, said Lymond, in the voice unmistakably his which honeyed his most lethal thoughts, I am a narwhal looking for my virgin. I have sucked up the sea like Charybdis and failing other entertainment will...
I prize freedom of the mind above freedom of the body.
I am too far away now from it all,’ Lymond said. ‘And if we are going to be metaphysical, I have no sea card, or compass, or star.
Here you have a hawk of the lure, not of the fist. He will not come to you. If you would have him, you must lay your heart upon your hawking-glove; and feed it to him.
He said, 'I take your for granted as much as it is prudent for any person to do so. I trust you as far as is sensible. I enjoy your company as far as it is allowable. I will banter with you and expect...
He isn’t coming,’ said Adam.‘Splendid,’ said Piero Strozzi heartily. ‘I love him, but I have brethren enough who are trying to climb with a foot on my neck.
He had been as careful as he knew how to be, but it had not been enough because he too had been hurt, by a loss he could afford less than Richard.