“A second or two later, the reptile had been quite absorbed by a handsome, arrogant-looking Englishman smelling strongly of snobbery and snake.”

“The side whiskers indeed were quite handsome. But he stroked them so very zealously that looking at him, one might very well think that first just the side whiskers had been brought into the world, and then later the gentleman was attached to them in order to stroke them.”

“We had enough quite enough snobbery in this world without exporting it to the hereafter.”

“There could be no snakes in Quintana Roo's garden.Only later did I see that I had been raising her as a doll.”

“There could be no snake in Quntana Roo's garden.Only later did I see that I had been raising her as a doll.”

“At sixteen, he was cursed with all the certainty of youth, unleavened by any trace of humor or self-doubt, and wed to the arrogance that came so naturally to those born blond and strong and handsome.”