“Talent is useful, but always keep your dagger sharp.”

“It is said a virtuous woman is worth more than rubies. But I believe many men discover the hard way that virtue, like beauty, is often in the eye of the beholder.”

“Talent is useful, but always keep your dagger sharp.”

“I must say, Graystone, you are surviving married life very nicely." Peter helped himself to claret from the decanter that had been set out in the library."Thank you, Sheldrake. I flatter myself that not every man could survive being married to Augusta.”

“When you are rich and powerful, no one will challenge you to your face or give you a chance to explain yourself. All the whispers are behind your back. You are left with no means of clearing your own name. And after a while you realize there is no point in even attempting to do so. No one wants the truth. All anyone wants is the chance to add more fuel to the fires of gossip. The whispers become so loud that sometimes you think you will drown in them.”

“I am crushed by your poor opinionBut will endeavor to carry on.”

“It is not good for the spirits to dwell on that which cannot be altered.”

“In my experience there are only a handful of reasons for murder....Jealousy, vengeance, greed, fear and pleasure....Some killers enjoy the kill....For them it is a great game, and for the most part they are the ones I hunt.”

“She fastened the invisible corset of her composure snugly around herself and prepared to move forward with her plan.”

“I have always found that it is far more convenient to be rich rather than to be poor.”

“No one gets away with committting murder on the premises.""No exceptions?" she asked.His smile was as cold as his eyes. "One exception.""You," she said."Me."She took a short, tight breath."But you didn't kill Gloria Maitland," she said."What makes you so sure I didn't murder her?""You're a magician. You would have done a better job of it.”