“Cardinal Giovanni still did not like delicate matters; they were usually painful.”

“For on Cardinal Rohan saying to me that the Italians did not understand war, I replied that the French did not understand politics.”

“The crowd began to murmur, but then a firm voice stilled it. Giovanni Auditore was speaking.'It is you who is the traitor, Uberto. You, one of my closest associates and friends, in whom I entrusted my life! And I am a fool. I did not see that you are one of them!' Here he raised his voice to a great cry of anguish and of rage.'You may take our lives today, but mark this - we will have yours in return!'-Giovanni Auditore,Before his execution”

“Mother was delicate the way badgers were delicate.”

“These things you did were like prayers; you did them and you hoped they would save you. And for the most part they did. Or something did; you could tell by the fact that you were still alive.”

“With total strangers, it had always been my policy to expect the worst. Usually they-and those that you knew best, for that matter-did not disappoint.”