Ghosts cannot be put on the witness stand, or have their fingerprints taken. They are completely proof against proof.

The scar, and her indifference to it, did something extraordinary for her, just as damage to some art object threw into relief how beautiful it had once been, tarnishing and tempering her face with the reminder of what humanity did to lovely things and how they bore it.

Man hovers between Paradise and the Pit.

Crime, after all, can be a way of establishing identity or acquiring security - at least the magistrate addresses you by name.

To what do you not drive human hearts, cursed for craving gold!

Truth travels slowly and gets weaker as it goes. Suitable lies are strong and run faster.

A daughter,' Rowley scooped up the child and held her high. The baby blinked from sleep and crowed with him. 'Any fool can have a son,' he said. 'It takes a man to conceive a daughter.