I would not be at all surprised to find that it was for gold that Cain committed the first murder. (It happened a very long time ago, and Holy Writ, though no doubt divinely inspired, is a trifle careless about details. God is not a historian).

Husbands do not care to be contradicted. Indeed, I do not know anyone who does.

I had refused Emerson's well-meant offers of assistance, knowing his efforts would be confined to moving the furniture to the wrong places and demanding how much longer the process would take.

There are too many people in the world as it is, but the supply of ancient manuscripts is severely limited.

Getting an idea for a book is not the problem, but you need 300 ideas - an idea a page.

Another dead body. Every year it is the same. Every year, another dead body.

...Nefret said with a gusty sigh, 'Well, that's done it. We may as well join in, Ramses, family arguments are the favorite form of amusement here and this looks like being a loud one.