Quotes from Dorothy Dunnett

Whether romance existed in him or not, sentimentality had no place at all.

He's asked Master Zitwitz to leave the duke and travel with him as household controller to the Ambassador's residence in Turkey.' Philippa Somerville blew her nose sharply. 'On the strength of his sweet cherry sauce?' 'On the strength, I think, of that handy right uppercut,' said Jerott.

What Mr Blyth has been engaged in was not love, my dear Francis. It was romance, a thing to which Mr Blyth has been very prone; together with melodrama. Whatever made you think that melodrama makes Mr Blyth uncomfortable? He revels in it.

It was of no importance. Birth did not matter; heredity was merely a hurdle; one was what one made of oneself; that and no other.

Elephants gave you less bother, any day.

I know. Aha, Oho, and every other bloody ejaculation. Let's take it as read. You're delirious at the idea of manhandling me and can't wait to start. I in turn may say I find your arrival offensive and your presence blasphemous, thus concluding the exchange of civilities and letting us get out of here. If there's anything novel or extra you want to add, you can think of it on the way home.

The prospect of watching the Crawford family at grips with itself was something that, blissfully, he wanted very much for his birthday.

Our powder and arrows are going to run out on us some time. And so are our food and water and joie de vivre and good books and everything. Why not walk out now and get made into somebody's favourite slave?

He has to perfection, M. le Comte, the art of living his private life with as much public attention as possible.

Darting a glance to either side, Danny Hislop had a sudden feeling that the whites of his eyes were beginning to show. 'Suppose we go upstairs?' said Sybilla comfortably. 'I think the steward is waiting to take us. That is, if you really want to hear us talk about our intimate family affairs in your presence. Otherwise I am sure they will make you very welcome elsewhere.' She was like her bloody son.

Marthe said dryly, 'Philippa wishes only to say thank you, and so also do I. They say in Italy, don't they, that the boat will sink that carries neither monk, nor student, nor whore.… How good that we have Mr Blyth.' 'How good that we have Mlle Marthe,' Lymond replied. His clothes, freshly changed, were impeccable and his brushed yellow hair, free of sand, was lit guinea-gold by the gleam of the lamps. 'Of her fellow men so charming a student.

I have been taught to face reality: an excellent thing.

Then she said, Thorfinn! quickly, and moved to him; but had hardly got to his side before he loosed his fingers and thumbs and plunged them down to the mattress like spear-points. No!Macbeth. Macbeth. Macbeth! the name reached her like sling-shot. Groa said, They are the same man. I should know. I married both.

This,' said Lymond, 'is by no means a game I will play, or consider playing. Move.

All we have to do is follow its track in the sand.' 'What sand?' said Jerott. 'Don't be pessimistic,' said Lymond.

She helps everybody ... Wait until you are wed. She'll do your breathing for you.

I'm tired of training,' Danny complained. 'Couldn't we plunder something, such as decadent idols with emerald eyes and a lot of clean, unspoiled village maidens?

Quarrelling with the Prince of Barrow was like fighting a curtain. Robin Stewart gave up.

What is your principal characteristic, would you say?' 'Treacherousness,' said Danny, gloriously. 'That,' said Lymond pleasantly, 'is everyone's principal characteristic.

Acrostics in French or acrostics in Hebrew were still Greek to him.

They spoke in Latin, so that all might understand; but the quotations they flung at each other were Greek and Hebrew, Turkish, Persian.

His hair soft as a nestling's, his eyes graceless with malice, Lymond was watching him in a silver mirror.

Why do you call him M. d'Harcourt? You called Jerott Jerott.' 'I called Jerott a great deal worse than that.

I feel I deserve a little amusement at someone else's expense. That is all. I have worked for it. I have paid for it. And I propose to have it.