“One realized all sorts of things. The value of an illusion, for instance, and that the shadow can be more important than the substance. All sorts of things.”

“Not that she objected to solitude. Quite the contrary. She had books, thank Heaven, quantities of books. All sorts of books.”

“...I know all about myself now, I know. You've told me so often. You haven't left me one rag of illusion to clothe myself in.”

“You can pretend for a long time, but one day it all falls away and you are alone. We are alone in the most beautiful place in the world...”

“Stephan was secretive and a liar, but he was a very gentle and expert lover. She was the petted, cherished child, the desired mistress, the worshipped, perfumed goddess. She was all these things to Stephan - or so he made her believe.”

“But they left their treasure, gold and more gold. Some of it is found- but the finders never tell, because you see they’d only get one-third then: that’s the law of treasure. They want it all, so never speak of it.”

“If all good, respectable people had one face, I'd spit in it.”