“The dangerous plant did not flower in every generation, they said. ”

“Of course I won't go alone. I shall take my maid." "No," Sebastian said. "You will take me.”

“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.”

“You know, it would be very easy for Gilmore to break his neck on these stairs," Matt offered with a hopeful air. "Accidents do happen.""That won't be necessary, thank you," Virginia said."Just a leg perhaps?”

“You mustn’t hit her over the head with it. Women like to be romanced like the heroines in the sensation novels.” “What the devil do you know about sensation novels?” “A man can learn a great deal about women from novels,” Matt said. “You should try it sometime.”

“All things being equal, he preferred to do business with people who were sane.”

“Idly he toyed with the notion of ripping Leybrook's head off his shoulders. It would be a very pleasant, extremely satisfying project, but Virginia would probably not approve.”