“Speaking of lunacy,' remarked Pyrgus later, 'are you in love with my sister?'Oh, yes!' Henry said at once.”

“Blue clung to Pyrgus and her tears turned to a ghastly, gurgling giggle. 'I'm Queen of Hael now, Mr. Fogarty,' she said; and she fainted.”

“And your police are like our police in the Realm?' Blue said. 'They flog you if you do something wrong and cut off your hand if you’re caught stealing?'No, they don’t do that, Henry said uncertainly. Why not? It’s pretty silly not to, isn’t it?' Blue said.”

“Anybody could have seen you. I was just unlucky.' He realised what he'd said and added hurriedly, 'I mean not unlucky to have seen you that way. I mean you're very pretty, beautiful and all that, no spots or anything...' - Henry”

“Fogarty rolled the cylinder in his fingers.' Know what's interesting? I had a look at this thing when they took it out. The insides are burned out.'Are they?' Blue asked mildly.It takes a lot to burn out one of those implants - almost impossible, in fact. You must love him very much,' Fogarty said quietly.Yes,' Blue said. 'Yes, I do.”

“He caught me stealing his golden phoenix.'Tithonus closed his eyes briefly. 'Good grief!' He opened them again. 'I was half hoping it wasn't true. Have you any idea of the implications?''He was mistreating it!' Pyrgus protested.'Of course he was mistreating it. This is Black Hairstreak we're talking about. He mistreats his own mother. I don't suppose you stole her as well?”

“How do you get on with your father ' Beleth asked.'Very well ' Pyrgus answered loyally although it was far from the truth.'I ate mine ' Beleth told him. 'He got old and feeble and useless but he wanted to hold on to power. So I took steps. Tasted disgusting - stringy tough smelly ... you know how fathers are - but it's the custom here. You're supposed to absorb the essence that way. Rank superstition of course but well ... tradition.”