Philippa said, to the scandalization of priest and secretary and chargé d'affaires, 'I think I'd like to get drunk.

My love is given to no one,' said Lymond. 'To neither man, woman or child. Duty, friendship, compassion I do owe to many. But love I offer to none.

At least this is a nation, with a religion, a head, a status, a policy. Not a damned Noah's ark: a chicken here, a lamb there, a family of wolves in the next field. I suppose you are proud of your...

You bloody little dictator,' he said. 'You're exactly like Kate.

Perhaps for one second you would sit on the lid of your irreducible ego and listen to me. I regard you, masculine or feminine, as the greatest genius the world has ever produced. I agree you have a...

Every ruin is packed like a biscuit box.

Your state has been seen, and will be reported on. Only it is necessary that you do not yawn. Or, of course, speak. Discretion in all things in all things is needed. She was reminding them, and she...

Rimed and sparkling with sugar, the wrestler lay like some child's flaccid sweetmeat in death, and the dogs licked his eyelids.

I have a suggestion in that case,' said Lymond. 'You two have the orgy, and I'll keep the drinker's headache.

Her suspicions seethed. Over sixty, with a life of violence behind him, Buccleuch had been a broken man after the affair at Liddel Castle. More recently, however, the light of purpose had entered his...

I'm sorry,' said Jerott, his eyes elsewhere. What was the attraction here, in God's name? Not the little woman in the stained gown, surely? Or the plain fourteen-year-old who had been so courageous...

If you were a dear, good little wife, Janet,' had said Lymond, 'you'd fall into a mortal decline that day, or at least hide his boots.' 'Francis Crawford, are ye daft! What ever kept a Scott from a...

What a hell of a welcome. I'm sorry. But there's so much still to do outside before the weather closes, and we have to tackle all the dreary minutiæ on weapons and theory where all your knightly...

He didn't always tell his father when it happened, because the old man's face turned mottled blue over his doublet, and unless Will got in first, he would send a runner round all the estates, and the...

His tranquil smile deepened. 'We shall meet in Malta, Jerott. Pray for us all. God has been good tonight.' 'Thompson has been rather splendid too,' said Lymond cordially. and waved a cheerful...

I am here, Brethren in Christ, to lead you, every man, woman and little child of the Faith, to freedom. God in His mercy be praised.' 'Then God in His mercy has arranged that we should lead them from...

I wrote you.''I didn't get it,' said Archie.'I wrote Applegarth as well,' said Adam angrily.'He didn't get it either. He's away for a day or two. Jesus,' said Archie, 'are ye not keen to come in? You...

Don't you know, even yet, why I came back to Orkney?" Rognvald said. Than Thorfinn looked up. Rognvald's gaze, waiting for his, took and sustained it. Thorfinn did not look away, but his face held no...

Every other woman since Eve has asked to be loved more than honour. But not you.

A man of over thirty might be held to be at the height of his powers, but not necessarily of his wisdom.

It won't help you," said Scott."Nothing ever does. That's why I help myself so frequently.

The more modest your expectations, the less often you will court disappointment.

Nine-tenths of every attack is bluff. The art is to know when to call it.

I can live alone, but it is better to have someone else to concern oneself with; to help and be helped by. There is nothing so strong as a family.

What an extraordinary fuss there has been,' said the Dame de Doubtance raspingly, 'about that irresponsible Irishwoman and her improper child.

My dear Gaultier,' said Lymond. 'It will send the Shadow of God into transports. I suppose I've seen objects more grisly before, but it doesn't spring to mind where.… Twenty-four-carat gold, Jerott....

You've chosen a life of vice, and have been consistent and reliable and thorough and successful in carrying it out.

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...

Do you swim? Hunt? Wrestle? I see. Can you use a crossbow? Your longest shot? Can you count? Read and write? Ah, the sting of sarcasm-Have we a scholar here? Then produce us a specimen," said Lymond....

To the Frenchmen risking their lives to drive the English from Scotland, such a feud seemed no doubt an ill-timed indulgence. To Buccleuch, any comment from a foreigner was a piece of damnable...